obituary

Bob Sutherland died Thursday morning at the age of 88. Family and friends are remembering him as a staunch advocate for civil rights and steward of the county's Jail Review Committee.

Grabill taught history and peace studies during a 33-year career at Illinois State University, where he helped establish the Peace and Conflict Resolution Studies minor, according to ISU archives.

Erik Nelson was a music producer at Eclipse Studios at 404 Northtown Rd. in north Normal and previously owned Sinewave Studios in Bloomington. Nelson died of cancer on Sunday at age 57.

Joe E. Talkington, a former Illinois State University professor and department chair remembered for opening doors to college for generations of students, died this week. He was 95.

A Republican colleague said George Wendt will be a remembered as a “stalwart advocate” of conservative principles on the McLean County Board.

The unexpected death Sunday of D’Mitri Dunson-Riggs, three days before his 35th birthday, leaves a void in the game he loved.

The head of the Bloomington-Normal NAACP said the Rev. Jesse Jackson's legacy lives on in getting young people engaged in the Civil Rights Movement.

Jeanette Barrett, a former and longtime McLean County clerk, has died at age 99. Barrett served as county clerk for 21 years and retired in 1998.

Luke Stremlau, executive director of the Bloomington Election Commission, died Saturday after a brief illness.

Ryan Whitehouse, the Illinois Farm Bureau’s director of national legislation, died Wednesday following an accident in Michigan.