Wapella.com Mourns the Passing of Raymond Fryman

Raymond D. “Red” Fryman, 70, Normal, died from brain cancer at 1:55 p.m. Sunday (June 27, 2010) at his home with his family at his bedside.

Cremation rites have been accorded. A memorial service will be at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Community Cancer Center, 407 E. Vernon Ave., Normal, IL 61761. Kibler-Smith Memorial Home, Bloomington, handled arrangements.

Raymond was born Oct. 6, 1939, in Clinton, a son of Raymond and Ida Wattles Fryman. He married Mary Elizabeth Schmidt on July 11, 1959, in Clinton. She survives. Mr. Fryman lived on the east side of Wapella township for many years in the 1960's and 70's.

At the time of his passing, Raymond was employed at Verizon (formerly GTE) for more than 50 years and was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

In addition to his wife Mary, Raymond is survived by a daughter, Leslie G. Fryman,

Bloomington; a son, Randell D. Fryman, New York, N.Y.; brothers and sisters, Verneal (Robert) Graham, Arthur; Nadine Maddalena, Murietta, Calif.; Eileen (Bill) Lacey, Frankfort, Ind.; and Rodney (Jane) Fryman, New Hampshire; and many nieces and nephews.

Raymond was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and one sister.

The family would like to express its heartfelt gratitude to Chris, Brian, Ryan, Tom, Larry, Justin and many other neighbors, colleagues, retirees and friends from Verizon.

Our condolences to the Fryman family.

Get Your Gooch On

This from James Toohill, the proprietor of Toohill Seed and Beef. Charitable guy, doing it up right, plus if your not careful you just might learn something.

Go James! Go Gooch! Click on the image to enlarge and read the details.

Sunny Afternoon with The Kinks Victoria

I In just a nutty video, The Fall cover the Kinks classic Victoria, HT EEP for the Facebook tip of this lunacy.

Wapella.com Mourns The Passing of Paul Fannin

Paul Walter Fannin, 92, of Wapella died at 11:18 a.m. Friday (June 18, 2010) at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, Bloomington.

A graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Memorial Park Cemetery, Clinton, with the Rev. Richard Gray officiating.

There will be no visitation. Calvert Funeral Home, Clinton, is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be made to Full Gospel Tabernacle, Heyworth.

He was born Dec. 4, 1917, in Bay City, Texas, a son of Kellum and Willie Clare Thompson Fannin.

He married Dorlene Geske on Aug. 21, 1956, in Springfield. She survives.

Also surviving is a son, Ronald (Donna) Fannin, Sheridan; a daughter, Mary Fannin, Heyworth; four grandchildren, Tony and Billy Fannin, Randy Hooser and Kirk Dennis; four great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a sister and two brothers.

He was a member of Full Gospel Tabernacle, Heyworth. He retired from the Illinois Central Railroad after 38 years. He enjoyed fishing, telling good jokes and stories. He loved his family very much and will be greatly missed.

New Cop/Buddy Movie Being Filmed in Wapella?

If you were filming a cop/buddy movie in Wapella, you might start with the PR shot here. Aside from being handsome blokes, these two look like they were caught in the tanning salon with their forearms up and now have some sort of rash.

Hat tip to Diane Greene for the action shot.

Feel free to extrapolate on movie plots involving the two on the left.

Here Come the Blackhawks...Up Michigan Ave

The Chicago Tribune counted 2,000,000 people in the Loop for the Blackhawks victory rally today, many who skipped any imaginable hygiene routine. I was able to get to the roof of one of my favorite buildings (with indoor plumbing no less), where my daughter and I, along with about 30 Ironworkers and Pipefitters watched the parade, and shot this video. The Ironworkers had a bunch of video equipment, but I don't know where their video is.

The audio part of the presentation was lame, the weather terribly hot, the Chicago fans rude and bossy...even booing Mayor Daley and Governor Quinn, in other words, everything was perfect for a victory celebration.

The Chicago Blackhawks are celebrating (and probably will be celebrating for the rest of our lifetimes) the Stanley Cup "World" Championship of the National Hockey League. Congratulations to the Hawks and all their fans for bringing home the big iron, or whatever it is the kids say today.

Trifecta Hits Wapella: Three Times the Congratulations

The Stars are aligned. Congratulations all around and a hat tip to the Pantagraph for keeping track

1) Jill Carlson Gorin and Jonathan Michael Frost WHS '93, both of Nashville, Tenn., will be married in October 2010 in Nashville.

Her parents are Walter and Anne Gorin of Greensburg, Ky. His parents are Steven and Jane Lancaster of Normal.

2) Patrick and Rosalie Phelan of Bloomington will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary with an open house from noon to 4 p.m. June 19 at the home of Joan Eyre, 11006N 2150 East Rd., Bloomington.

Phelan and Rosalie Kleemann were married June 17, 1950, at St. Patrick's Church, Wapella. Their attendants were Helen Kleemann and Dick Corbitt.

They are the parents of Connie Phelan, Bloomington; Betty Connour, Heyworth; Ann (John) Benjamin, Cleveland, Tenn.; Linda Spurgin, Bloomington; Marcia (Bob) Long, Hoffman Estates; and Joan (Kendall) Eyre, Bloomington. They have 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

They farmed in rural Heyworth, retiring in 2008.

3) Ron (WHS '57) and Rita Oakley of Clinton will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a summer vacation.

Oakley and Rita Day were married June 9, 1960, at First Christian Church in Clinton.

They are the parents of Beth (Joe) Mazza (WHS '79) of Carlsbad, Calif., and Mr. David Oakley (WHS '83) of Bloomington.

Flag flies high today for all in Wapella!

Get Lost! Friday for Rock and Roll for Friday for Rock and Roll

The Troggs:

1) Were from Andover, site of big RAF Base in South Central England

2) Kind of sounded like the Kinks from time to time. They had the same manager as well.

3) Lead singer was Reg Presley, second biggest Presley in showbiz, even bigger than Lisa Marie and Priscilla

4) Had a huge #1 hit with Wild Thing, that sounds like a novelty number 44 years later.

5) Had a bunch of good songs, including the sweet "Love is All Around" and the Beach Boy's style "With a Girl Like You"

6) Had awesome hair.

7) Never got anywhere with this song, "Lost Girl", but it is one of the best I have ever heard. Per legend, this is the sound the Kinks were after (heavy echo, sort of a Bonanza type back beat, lunacy on lead vocals (the Kinks did have that)), but couldn't get, which leaves this one as a stray.

Wapella.com Mourns the Passing of Kenneth W. Jackson

Kenneth W. Jackson, 92, Clinton, departed to his permanent home peacefully Sunday (May 30, 2010) surrounded by his family and friends.

A celebration service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Calvert Funeral Home, Clinton, with his son Joseph Jackson and James McMillion officiating. Masonic services will be at 10:45 a.m. Saturday. Burial will be at Memorial Park, Clinton, with military rites at the graveside.

Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. prior to the service Saturday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Wapella Christian Church or Little Galilee Christian Assembly.

He was born Sept. 23, 1917, to Frederick Louis and Erma Gibson Jackson, in their home outside of Auburn, Iowa. He married Wilma E. Arthington, the love of his life, on Sept. 23, 1939, in Clinton, by the Rev. Wheaton. They had 69 wonderful years together, having lived in Illinois, Florida, and back to Illinois for their final years.

He lived a long and blessed life, one of serving and giving as a father, grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather. He was a friend to all. He was a farmer, an unschooled mechanical engineer extraordinaire and a quiet gentleman. He was a very devoted father of his family, instilling rich Christian values and strong work ethics, which will be carried on for generations to come. He was an active member of Christian Churches wherever he lived, and also assisted in establishment of three new churches. He served as a deacon, elder and chairman of the board.

Kenneth is survived by his sister, Shirley Rueff; his two sons, Frederick “Fritz”, Wapella, and Joe, Miami, Fla.; two daughters, Kellen Yeater, Champaign, and Aricka Calianno, New Port Richey, Fla.; two daughters-in-law, Linda and Elizabeth; grandchildren, Keith Jackson (WHS '78), Kenda Herberts (WHS '80), (Dr.) Kenneth Jackson (WHS '86), Joseph “Andy” Jackson and Jami Ellis; three great-grandchildren, Donnie Jackson, Kayla Jackson and Kenneth “Andy” Jackson; and a great-great-grandson, Reese Patrick English.

His wife, Wilma; parents; brothers, Donald and Robert; sister, Dorothy Walden; grandsons, Kent, Jeremy and Joshua; and many friends have preceded him to his everlasting home.

Our condolences to the Jackson family on the passing of Kenneth W. Jackson.