obituary

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.

The matriarch of a prominent Bloomington-Normal business family has died. Linda Shirk was 79.

Bill Sulaski, a longtime community leader and booster of Illinois State University, has died at age 85. He was the first chair on ISU's Board of Trustees.

Ryne Sandberg, a Hall of Fame second baseman who became one of baseball's best all-around players while starring for the Chicago Cubs, has died. He was 65.

Ryan was imprisoned for bribery scheme while serving as Secretary of State.

Marian “Cindy” Friend Pritzker was the wife of Hyatt Hotels founder Jay Pritzker and mother to their five children. She was also the aunt of Gov. JB Pritzker, headed the Chicago Public Library Board and co-founded the Pritzker Architecture Prize.

Former Normal Mayor Dick Godfrey has died. As mayor from 1976 to 1985, Godfrey helped the Town of Normal transition from a small college town into an economically diverse community. He was also mayor during the town's infamous firefighters strike.

Waddell was a Bloomington native who became a celebrated classical vocalist in Europe and the United States, mentoring many others along the way.