Deaths

Death notices for the Stateline: Apr. 7, 2025

We remember those who are no longer with us in Roscoe, South Beloit, and Rockton.

Michael McGinnis

Apr 7, 2025 — 5 min read

Mary Shakespeare, Dona Zopp, Edmond Mertzenich, Anna Gabriele, Robert Davies, Anna Mathes, William Ament, Peter Kniskern, Clark Schoonover, Caroline Tracy, Joann Merrick, Steve Cofoid, Carole Ahlquist, Margaret Bry, Jennifer Fair, David Nelson

With sadness, we announce the following deaths for Roscoe, South Beloit, and Rockton in recent weeks:

Mar. 14, 2025:
Anna L. Mathes, 91, South Beloit
Born in Pigeon Lake, Manitoba, Canada of Russian Mennonite immigrants, she served in Paraguay and Chicago with the Mennonite Central Committee as a young woman. She had a deep love for singing and was an active member of her church choir as well as the Joy Singers.

Mar. 18, 2025:
Jennifer L. Fair, 38, Roscoe
She was an accomplished machinist, working in aerospace manufacturing and testing asphalt quality for highways and runways. Full of zest for life, she was a martial arts brown belt, a creative writer, and a devoted animal lover.

Mar. 20, 2025:
William J. Ament, 79, Rockton
An Army veteran, he worked 31 years for Ingersoll before retiring in 2001. He served as an usher and elder at St. Paul Lutheran Church.

Mar. 23, 2025:
Mary L. Shakespeare, 92, Rockton
A pre-school teacher then a realtor, she loved dance and music. Besides her involvement in choirs, she often played guitar and sang with her children at various performances.

Joann Merrick, 91, Rockton
The 13th of 14 children, she was a 1952 graduate of Janesville High School. She was an avid golfer and enjoyed needlework. Up North family vacations, and playing cards, especially with her bridge club girls.

Anna Gabriele, 84, South Beloit
Born in Sicily, she migrated to the United States in 1959 with her husband, built radios, and later became a staple at Palermo’s & Domenico’s in Beloit. She was a devoted mother who loved to bake bread.

Mar. 25, 2025:
Peter W. Kniskern, 67, South Beloit
He worked at B.E. Space and Beloit Daily News. A graduate of Northern Illinois University, he was an avid reader, history buff, and music lover.

Mar. 26, 2025:
Caroline M. Tracy, 53, Roscoe
In high school, she was all-state in cross country and track. Her greatest passion was her six children. She majored in physical therapy at University of Missouri and later was a successful financial advisor.

Robert Davies, 84, Rockton
A skilled welder by trade and a natural handyman, Bob was always looking for something to fix. He loved the simple pleasures: a boat ride on a sunny day, the rhythm of gardening, and a grilled meal shared with loved ones.

Mar. 27, 2025:
Richard L. Kinser, 68, Rockton
A proud Marine and a man of deep faith, he was an engineer at Dean Foods, then owned his own company, then settled into the dairy industry. He loved muscle cars, golfing, family cookouts, the Auto Museum in Roscoe, pickleball, Vegas trips, visits to Kentucky, tending to his birds, and caring for his car collection.

Apr. 1, 2025:
Margaret S. Bry, 81, South Beloit
She loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed reading, gardening, crocheting, and feeding the wildlife at her home.

Apr. 2, 2025:
Dona J. Zopp, 94, Roscoe
She was a postmaster for 35 years in Leaf River and Roscoe. She enjoyed bridge, golfing, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Steve Cofoid, 60, Rockton
Hononegah's former athletic director and the 1983 recipient of the Kelsey Award, he worked at Hononegah High School for 19 years before his retirement last year.

Clark A. Schoonover, 71, South Beloit
He operated Shade Tree Cycles in Beloit. He was a board member for Rock Energy, South Beloit Library, Macktown Living History, and Police & Fire Commission. He flew model airplanes, hunted deer, worked wood, participated in reenactments, and had many other hobbies as well.

Carole S. Ahlquist, 82, Roscoe
She liked putting together puzzles. She enjoyed watching the Chicago Cubs and NASCAR. Carole enjoyed lunches with her sisters and sitting around the campfire chatting. Most of all she loved her family.

Apr. 3, 2025:
David J. Nelson, 77, South Beloit
A graduate of South Beloit High School, he loved working at Culver’s, going on adventures, and lifting weights. He received his black belt in Taekwondo at age 72.

Eldon E. Aase, 83, Roscoe
He was stationed in Germany with the United States Air Force. In Freeport and Rockford, he worked as a lab technician before becoming self employed later in his life. He enjoyed puzzles and crossword puzzles and collected eggs and dachshund plates.

Apr. 4, 2025:
Edmond Mertzenich Sr., 91, Rockton
Born in Belgium, he met his future wife at age 5. He served in the Belgian army as a paratrooper, serving in the Congo in the 1950's. The couple moved to the United States in 1965. Learning English fluently, he spent most of his career in can manufacturing, retiring to Rockton in 1996.

George D. Rose, 77, South Beloit
He found great pleasure in simple joys - fishing on quiet mornings, grilling out with loved ones, bowling, playing cards, or telling jokes.

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