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Donna Jane Smith Cockerill passed away on June 29,2025 at her home in Rushville, IL surrounded by her family. She was born near Apple Pie Ridge, Bluffs, IL on July 31, 1937, to Paul B. and Evelyn Marie (Little) Smith. She was the Valedictorian of the 1955 graduating class at Bluffs High School. Upon graduation she left Bluffs for Champaign, IL to work in the steno pool at the University of Illinois Department of Agriculture where she met her husband Vernon L. Cockerill, a Veterinary student who was also from Bluffs. They carpooled together home to Bluffs on weekends. They married June 2, 1956, in Champaign at the U. of I. Chapel. Upon Vernon’s graduation they spent a year in Springfield, IL and then in 1958 they purchased a veterinary practice in Rushville. Together they built two businesses, Schuyler Animal Hospital and Schuyler Laboratories, Inc., the latter manufacturing nutritional swine products and became internationally known. Donna managed the company and treated each of her employees like family. Donna sold the business after Vernon’s death in 1982. Donna is survived by (4) daughters; Robin C. Glenn of El Reno, OK, Debra (Kent) Allen, Jacksonville, IL, Geri (Fred) Ringenberg of Rushville, IL, and Jill Cockerill of Piedmont, Mo. She was grandmother to Chase (Erin) and Cole (Shianna) Glenn, Tara (Damon) Sherrod, Nathan (Sarah) Allen, Miranda (Jacob) Hoppock, Brenton (Jenna) Allen, Jordan (Christina) Ringenberg and Danielle (Jared Miller) Ringenberg. She was great-grandmother to Arya and Cohen Gleen, Kolt and Makenzie Glenn, Benjamin and Brooke Sherrod, Cailey Allen, Jaqulyn Moreno, Savannah, Levi, Malik, Nichole and Scarlett Allen, Jeramiah, Jadean, and Jemma Hoppock, Miles and Asher Allen and Ezra Cox. She was great-great grandmother to Kaiden, Juliann and Koa Allen, and Zalyus Moreno. Donna loved her special brother-in-law Leland Littig of Jacksonville, IL and many nieces and nephews who called her “Aunt Sug.”  She was preceded in death by her parents, (3) brothers, Donald, Leo Paul, and Robert L. Smith; (4) sisters, Janiece Weakley, Eva, Lucille, and Pauline Smith and (1) great granddaughter, Sophia Sherrod. Donna was a lover of life. She loved her family, especially her four girls and two sons-in-law. She hosted the Annual Little Family Golf tournament starting in 1969 at her home on Parkview Road and continued for 15 years. The family reunion continues today drawing 100+ family members in Winchester, IL. Donna began riding horses and trail riding at the age of forty saying those years were the happiest of her life. Her Uncle Clarence once said, “Donna you bounce so much on that horse we could put a fat hog between you and the saddle!”  She took the girls to the Paul Findley Trail Ride for 15 years. She attended the August Cross Country Trail Ride in Eminence, MO for 19 years. Donna loved her friends and memories from The Rushville Saddle Club. She purchased her place in the Sugar Grove neighborhood in 2005 and spent each summer in her flower gardens, mowing and watching the horses and deer. This was certainly her “happy place.”  She truly enjoyed being a member of the Sugar Grove United Methodist Church. Throughout her adult life Donna was involved in Rushville and Schuyler community service. She chaired the “Hands Across Rushville” benefit for Mary Shaver, organized a “peaceful sit-in” by horseback at Weinberg King State Park when the DNR was going to close it. She put on a heck of a double wedding when Geri and Debbie both got engaged within a few months of each other. She loved to cook for everybody…EVERYBODY. Donna was a charter member of Schuyler Singers, a Deaconess at the First Presbyterian Church, a member of Chamber of Commerce, her Bridge Club and Lunch Bunch Ladies at the SchuyVista and enjoyed having coffee and a caramel cinnamon roll with her pals at Roger’s Bakery. She hosted veterinarians from many countries at their home as Vernon educated them on the swine health program at the Labs. Vernon and Donna traveled the U.S. to Pork Congresses promoting their products, networking with veterinarians and operators alike. Her basement bedrooms were open to all teenagers getting ready for dates and frequently spending nights. She often said, “I never knew who was coming up from the basement.”  She also welcomed young adults temporarily needing a place to live. A Celebration of Life will be held at Sugar Grove United Methodist Church, Thursday July 3, 2025, at 12 noon with Rev. Charla Myers officiating. A visitation will be held from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the church prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Sugar Grove United Methodist Church or to the Rushville Saddle Club.

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Margaret Cirilli Wilcoxen 99, of Rushville, Illinois died Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at the Rushville Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Rushville, Illinois. She was born June 5, 1926, in St. David, IL (Fulton County) to the late Peter and Rosie (Boetto) Cirilli. She married Esta Wilcoxen on October 9, 1948, in Peoria, IL. He preceded her in death on May 8, 1999. Surviving are three daughters: Cathy Heinz (Rolly) of Rushville, IL, Karen Meitl (Ken) of Washington, IL, Janice Tossell (Gene Lang) of Kewanee, IL, and one son: Joe Wilcoxen of Rushville, IL. Eight grandchildren: Ryan Heinz, Jerred Heinz, John Cameron, Melissa Jarvis, Dallas Wilcoxen, Ginger Wilcoxen, Jennifer Yager and Heather Hurley. Eight great grandchildren: Elliott Heinz, Nathaniel Heinz, Beckett Heinz, Emmie Heinz, Mila Jarvis, Ryder Bowman, Lilli Cassineri, and Easton Hurley. She was preceded in death by her parents, three infant sisters, one brother Joe Cirilli, two nephews: David and Darren Cirilli and one son in law David Cameron. She graduated from Lewistown High School, Lewistown, IL in 1944. She worked at Caterpillar Tractor Co. in East Peoria, IL, International Harvester Co. in Canton, IL, worked for her husband at Town Craft Wood Products and a bill collector for CIPS Co and as a ward clerk at Culbertson Hospital in Rushville, IL. Margaret loved to ride her bike and was in many bikeathons for cancer and one for Cystic Fibrosis. She was a Past President of the American Legion, Schuyler Co. Crusade Chairman for American Cancer Society, a member of Hospital Auxiliary and Schuyler County Heart Association. She enjoyed going to Florida in the winter for many years. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at the Worthington Funeral Home with Rev. Rob Kirkham officiating. Interment will be in the Rushville City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to American Cancer Society or American Heart Association.