Charlotte “Lottie” Meronk (9/11/1930 – 5/4/2020), loving daughter to the late Steven and Mary Strawa, predeceased by husband, Saverio “Cookie” Venetucci; grandson, Christian Venetucci; husband, Charles “Chuck” Meronk; sister and brother-in-law, Theresa and Robert Skaja.  She is survived by her children, James (Linda) Venetucci, Robert (Laurie) Venetucci, Donna Bogosh; step-daughter, Linda (Randy) Herhold; 11 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews.

Loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend. Known as Lottie, Charlotte, ma, CV, grandma, aunt Lottie, gramma Chuckie, none of which are her real name. She was devoted to her family and friends; always caring, always giving, always cooking her famous meatballs, gravy, and lasagna for every party and celebration. She graduated from Old St. Pat’s in Chicago. After raising a family, she returned to school, earned her nursing degree and worked at Elmhurst hospital, later finishing her career as an industrial nurse. Charlotte loved to travel around the country and abroad. Her favorite memories included time spent at the cottage in Michigan, and, several trips to Italy, particularly Rome and the Amalfi coast. She was a faithful parishioner and volunteer of St. Mary’s in McHenry. Charlotte made life-long friends wherever she lived and was loved by all. She was her own person yet completely selfless. She loved butterflies and balloons, choosing to rise above, landing as needed, if only to remind us to see the beauty, before floating off again. A kind and gentle spirit who is greatly missed.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests sending memorial contributions to organizations supporting nurses and first responders. All funeral arrangements were entrusted to Strang Funeral Chapel & Crematorium 410 E. Belvidere Rd. Grayslake, IL 60030. Please log onto www.strangfuneral.org or call (847)223-8122 for more information.

Joseph M. Ott, age 94, of Grayslake, passed away peacefully on May 2, 2020 after a brief illness.  He was born on June 2, 1925 in Chicago, Il where he married and raised a family.  Joe had been a resident of Grayslake and a parishioner of St. Gilbert Church for over 30 years.  He leaves behind Georgeanna, his loving wife of 67 years.  He was the proud father of Kathleen (Rich Ruhland), Joe (Cindy), John (Gwen) and Barbara (Dennis Blow).  He will be greatly missed by all of his grandchildren, Peter (Rosa), Chris (Kelly), Josef (Lindsay), Daniel (Jennifer), Anna, Benjamin, Erin, Jeremy, Erik (Elizabeth), Caleb (Danielle) and Jacob.  He will also be missed by his great grandchildren, Christopher, Joshua, Everett, Abigail, Ethan and Caiden.  He was the proud uncle of 5 nieces and 1 nephew.  He was preceded in death by his sister, Teresa (late Leo).  Interment will be held at Ascension Cemetery in Libertyville.  A memorial Mass will be scheduled at a later date.

Ethan Alexander Robinson, age 17, of Gages Lake passed away at his home on April 20, 2020.  He was born on April 17, 2003 in Highland Park to Sabina Syed and Kristopher A. Robinson.  Ethan loved to play video games and basketball.  He attended Warren Township High School and the Learning House in Wheeling.  Ethan is survived by his parents, Sabina Syed of Gages Lake and Kristopher A. Robinson of Joliet; his siblings, Briana A. Miller of Des Plaines, Aiden M. Leroy of Gages Lake and Ariya S. Leroy of Gages Lake; and his grandparents, Anthony Robinson and Shahnaz Syed.  He was preceded in death by his grandma, Deloria Robinson; and grandpa, Sher A. Syed.  A visitation will be held at Strang Funeral Chapel, 410 E. Belvidere Road, Grayslake, on Saturday, May 2, 2020 (we will be adhering to all COVID-19 guidelines).  Please call (847)223-8122 for more information.  

Joseph “Sepp” Pangratz, age 84, of Iron River, MI passed away on Friday, April 17, 2020 at Aspirus Iron River Hospital. He was born on January 8, 1936 in Waldkirchen, Germany.  Joe immigrated to the United States in 1958 settling in Baltimore, MD.  He met his wife, Sandy, in Washington D.C and they married on December 12, 1964.  The couple moved to Lake Villa, IL, where they lived for 34 years and moved to Iron River in 2000. Joe owned and operated Pangratz Carpentry for 25 years.  He was a member of the Gagewood Lions Club, serving as President and Christmas Tree Chairman for several years.  He was voted Lion of the Year twice and is a Melvin Jones Fellow. After moving to Iron River, Joe enjoyed retirement by hunting, fishing, and working in his shop, where he sold his creations at local craft fairs. Joe is survived by his wife, Sandy, née Derer and a sister, Annie in Germany, along with many nieces and nephews.  Also surviving are the Licocci family of which he was “Opa” to Vinny and Maddy and a dear friend to the Elsbury families.  He was preceded in death by a son, Joseph A; six brothers, Fritz, Max, Ludwig, Rupert, Franz, and Arnulf; and a sister, Krescenz.  A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Burial will be in Highland Memorial Park in Libertyville, IL. Condolences may be expressed to the family of Joseph Pangratz online at www.jacobsfuneralhomeir.com Funeral arrangements are by the Jacobs Funeral Home, Inc. of Iron River and Strang Funeral Chapel & Crematorium 410 E. Belvidere Rd. Grayslake, IL 60030. For more information log onto www.strangfuneral.org or call (847)223-8122.

Joan Marie Sorby, age 80, a resident of Gages Lake, passed away Wednesday, April 15, 2020 at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.  She was born June 14, 1939 in Diamond Lake.  Joan was a die-hard Minnesota Vikings fan who was family-oriented.  She also loved her sweets.  She was the life the party and was a friend to all and loved by all. Joan is survived by her husband of 62 years, Roger, whom she married on February 1, 1958; her children, Kelly Sorby of Milwaukee, WI, Keith Sorby of Grayslake, and Tracy (Paul) Whitmer of Gages Lake; her grandchildren, Ryan (Tanya Sorby-Nelson) Sorby of Gurnee, Holly Sorby of Wildwood, Derek Sorby of Lake Villa, Britnee (Billy) Jones of Gages Lake and Kyle Whitmer of Gages Lake; four great-grandchildren; and two siblings, Andrea Gilchist of Bradenton, FL and Tommy Christensen of Washington.  Visitation and services will be held privately.  Interment will be at Highland Memorial Park in Libertyville. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association. Arrangements were entrusted to Strang Funeral Chapel & Crematorium, 410 East Belvidere Road, Grayslake, IL.  For information, call 847-223-8122 or go to www.strangfuneral.org.

Manuel Corona, age 64, a resident of Waukegan, passed away Sunday, April 12, 2020 at Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan.  He was born December 4, 1955 in La Luz, Michoacan, Mexico to Ramon Corona and Maria Luisa Becerra Corona.  In La Luz, he met and married his wife, Virginia, at their home church Nuestra Senora de Guadelupe. The couple resided in California before ultimately settling in Waukegan with their children.  He made a living as a jack-of-all-trades handyman and was a parishioner at the Most Blessed Trinity Parish.  He proudly became a U.S. citizen in 2018 and he found his greatest joy in being a grandfather.  Manuel is survived by his wife of 40 years whom he married on February 9, 1980;  his mother, Maria Luisa Becerra Corona; six children, Manuel (Angelica) Corona of Waukegan, David Guillen (Naisla) Corona of Gurnee, Brenda Denise Corona of Pueblo, CO, Ana Vanessa Corona of Waukegan, Melissa Isavel Corona of Waukegan and Jose Antonio Corona of Waukegan; seven grandchildren, Melynna Annahi Salinas of Waukegan, Desiree Giselle Dabney-Corona of Gurnee, Joaquin Alexander Corona of Waukegan, Jordan Rene Gonzalez of Waukegan, Lilliana Yareli Corona of Waukegan, Nicolas Alexander Montoya of Waukegan, and Naomi Beatriz Corona of Gurnee.  He is further survived by six siblings, Lourdes Corona of La Luz, Michoacan, Mexico, Martha Corona of Waukegan, Ramon (Carmen) Corona Jr. of Merced, CA, Patricia Corona of Whittier, CA, Maria (Aron Rodriguez) Corona of Zion, and Beatriz (Jesus  Barajas) Corona of Beach Park. Manuel was preceded in death by his father on April 22, 1996, daughter, Norma Giselle Corona on September 25, 2000 and brother, Miguel Corona on April 11, 2020.  Mass of the Resurrection will be held at Nuesta Senora de Guadalupe in La Luz, Michoacan, Mexico with interment at Del Panteon, Lazaro Cardenas, La Luz at a later date.  Arrangements were entrusted to Strang Funeral Chapel & Crematorium, 410 E Belvidere Road, Grayslake, IL 60030.  For information, please call 847-223-8122 or visit www.strangfuneral.org.

Andrea Witt, a Grayslake resident for 23 years, passed away peacefully in her home on April 13, 2020 at the age of 83 after a brave battle with stage 4 lung cancer. 

She was born in Chicago to the late Andrew Starck and Grace Charlotte Olsen on May 2, 1936.  Andrea worked as an executive administrative assistant for many years.  She always helped others before herself and had a passion for reading and crafting, the results of which her family still enjoys.

Andrea was the beloved wife of the late Richard H. Witt, Jr. for 55 years; the loving mother of Richard (Margaret) Witt III, Michael (Anita) Witt, Sr., Teresa Bastable-Podsiki, and Lynelle (Timothy) Orris; the cherished grandmother of 10 and great-grandmother of 11; and the dear sister of Fred (Sharen) Starck, Linda (Joe) Palminteri; and Tom (Claudia) Starck,  brother-in-law, Ronald (Janet) Witt, Sr. Her stepmother, Katherine Starck, preceded her in death. 

A private burial will take place this week with a celebration of life to be scheduled at a later date.  Memorials in Andrea’s name can be made to the Fremont Public Library. All arrangements were entrusted to Strang Funeral Chapel & Crematorium, 410 East Belvidere Road, Grayslake, IL 60030.  For information, please call 847-223-8122 or visit www.strangfuneral.org.

Emma M. Stice, 89, passed away April 10, 2020.  She was born in Cable, WI on May 16, 1930.  She currently lived in the Carillon Heatherstone Senior Community in Beach Park, IL.  She married her husband William “Bill” Stice in 1947.  She was a loving mother to four children: Richard L. Stice, Laurie (Ron) Kelver, Gary Stice, and Angie (Michael) Dausman.  She adored her 8 grandchildren, Jennifer Stice, Ryan Kelver, Dawn Leppert, Christina Denton, Michael Stice, Kirsten Bartlett, Will and Kaitlin Dausman.  Also her 15 great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her husband Bill, her son Richard, her grandson Michael, her sisters Lola Lewis and Delores Reinhart and her brothers Bill Richter and Royce Richter.  She was a devoted member of the Wesley Methodist Church in Waukegan, IL.  She loved her church and its members.  She was a devoted animal lover.  Emma also loved to cook, try new recipes, and send her baked goods to neighbors.  At this time services are private and a Celebration of Life will be held later this year.   Any donations may be sent in Emma’s name to Wesley Methodist Church 3601 N. Lewis Ave. Waukegan, IL 60087.  All arrangements were entrusted to Strang Funeral Chapel & Crematorium.  For more information please contact (847)223-8122 or log onto www.strangfuneral.org.

Virginia Murray nee Hanson, 73, of Grayslake, IL died peacefully on April 6, 2020.  Beloved wife of the late Robert Nicholas Murray.  Loving mother of Kevin (Jennifer), Keith (Laura) and Kris Murray.  Proud Farmor (grandmother) of Nicholas, Noah, Ella, and Ethan.  Cherished daughter of the late Ernest and Elin (nee Johnson) Hanson.  Loved by many cousins, nieces and nephews, and friends.

Ginny was a life-long crafter and homemaker.  She loved to knit, sew and cross stitch anything and she was always making things for others.  She loved travelling with her family and friends, throughout North America and Europe.  She then used her love of crafting to make beautiful scrapbooks to share her experiences with everyone.  Raising 3 boys she acquired a love of sports.  But even before they were born, she was a die-hard Cubs fan.  She dedicated 25 years serving as a church administrator at Edgebrook Lutheran Church in Chicago, IL and Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran Church in Grayslake, IL. Ginny was a two time cancer survivor.  

A Memorial Service will be held at Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran Church at a later date.  Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation. Arrangements were entrusted to Strang Funeral Chapel & Crematorium, 410 E Belvidere Road, Grayslake, IL 60030.  For information, call 847-223-8122 or go to www.strangfuneral.org.

Connie Jean Compton, 64, a resident of Buffalo Grove, IL, passed away April 6, 2020 at Glenbrook Hospital.  She was born July 24, 1955 in Harvey, IL to A. Branch and Betty I. Compton. She was a member of Village Church of Lincolnshire.

Connie is survived by her brothers, Alan B. (Deborah) of Round Lake Beach and Charles C. (Sherry) of LaFollette, TN; 11 nieces and nephews; and 11 great nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents. 

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.  All arrangements were entrusted to Strang Funeral Chapel & Crematorium 410 E. Belvidere Rd. Grayslake, IL 60030.  For more information please contact (847)223-8122 or log onto www.strangfuneral.org.