Illinois Valley Living_March 2026_Boomers

MARCH 2026

ILLINOIS VALLEY LIVING Boomers

Home is where the heart is

Historic cemeteries of Bureau County

Enjoy a show at Stage 212 Seattle Sutton’s balanced nutrition

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4 THE HISTORIC CEMETERIES OF BUREAU COUNTY

Local cemeteries are treasure troves of information.

10 PROMOTING INDEPENDENCE

At Home Care helps clients remain at home as long as possible.

14 STAGE 212 GEARS UP FOR ANOTHER SEASON

Extensive auditorium upgrades mean a more comfortable experience.

17 SEATTLE SUTTON

A long-time champion of using clean ingredients.

IV Living - Boomers

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La Salle, Illinois 61301 (815) 223-3200 (800) 892-6452

shawlocal.com/illinois-valley-living/

General Manager/

Advertising Director

Jeanette Smith jmsmith@shawmedia.com

Niche Editor

Shannon Serpette sserpette@shawmedia.com

Writers

Katlyn Sanden

Shannon Serpette

Photographers

Cecille Gerber

MaKade Rios

Shannon Serpette

Designer Liz Klein

WHERE COMPASSION

the gravesite map at

and

The Historic Cemeteries of Bureau County

Compiled by Shannon Serpette

Editor’s note: Local cemeteries are treasure troves of information, providing genealogical resources and insight into the community and its past residents. Two local historians were asked to share information about the historic cemeteries located throughout Bureau County.

Jessica Gray CURATOR, BUREAU COUNTY HISTORY CENTER

“Bureau County is dotted with beautiful cemeteries filled with fascinating bits of history that tell the story of the early days of the county, even going back to the founding of the country itself.

They make for perfect weekend drives and a quiet walk among the stones. Most are small plots, located just off the road, like the charming Limerick Cemetery that runs parallel to Rt. 26 in Ohio Township. Others

GRAY, Page 6

are expansive and provide a serene respite among towering trees, like the 80 acres of Oakland Cemetery in Princeton with its over 15,000 burials, among them Rev. Owen Lovejoy whose home is a National Historic Landmark on the Underground Railroad; Nehemiah Matson, author and donor for Princeton’s first public library, whose stone happens to be the largest in the cemetery; poet and abolitionist John Howard Bryant; and Justus Stevens, Princeton’s first mayor, just to name a few.

There’s also Mount Bloom Cemetery, established on the hill west of Tiskilwa in 1865, whose land was donated by the Peter Bloom family, who first arrived in the area in 1842. The stairway entrance to the cemetery is a unique architectural structure in itself.

West Bureau Cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries in the county. It is a two-acre plot of land in Section 33 of Bureau Township, northwest of Princeton. It was first established over 190 years ago when “Dad Joe” Smith’s wife, Catharine, was buried there in 1835. Smith operated a tavern and hotel in northern Ohio Township along the Galena Trail. One of Smith’s most famous visitors was a 23-year-old Abraham Lincoln, who was then serving in the Illinois militia during the Blackhawk War. While traveling through the area, he spent the night on May 12, 1832. A stone was later placed to mark the spot of the tavern in 1907.

Also buried at West Bureau Cemetery are Henry Thomas and his wife, Mary, who first arrived in 1828 and are widely acknowledged as the county’s first white settlers. A photograph of one of his descendants, taken by Henry W. Immke on March 17, 1869, titled “Henry Thomas’ babe,” is currently on display at the Bureau County History Center in Princeton.

Searl’s Ridge Cemetery is a beautiful old cemetery, sitting up on the ridge between Princeton and DePue, and is bordered on two sides by a thick grove of maple trees that extend down the ridge. There, you can visit the graves of Judge William L. Hoskins and his family,

after whom the early ridge settlement, Hoskins Prairie, was first named. He, too, hosted Lincoln in his home on the ridge when Lincoln visited Bryant Woods in Princeton on July 4, 1856, to give his famous speech before 10,000 spectators. Lincoln then spent the night with his old friend Hoskins, surely reminiscing about the days they had spent together as neighbors in Kentucky, when Hoskins’ mother taught Lincoln to read. The bed Lincoln slept in that night is a part of the collections of the Bureau County History Center.

A large portion of the cemetery is comprised of the descendants of Timothy Searl, who had twelve children. His five sons, Brown, Job, David, Timothy, and John, were all very large and athletic like their father and were reputed to weigh over 1,000 pounds. Their size was so well known that they were called upon to protect the ballot boxes when votes were cast to establish Bureau County out of Putnam County. Twenty years ago, the descendants of the Searl family gathered for a reunion and spent the weekend cleaning and stabilizing the stones that had toppled over.

Hills Cemetery, just outside of LaMoille in Clarion Township, has the graves of the prominent Norris family. The cemetery is small, so it is easy to locate the grave of Anna Norris Kendall. Kendall was a suffragist who marched on Washington, D.C., at the age of 72, and was one of the first women to be placed on the ballot for any office in the county when she ran for superintendent of schools on the Socialist Party ticket in 1910.

Also buried there is her father, Isaac H. Norris, who at one time was the largest landowner in the county with 8,000 acres split between Bureau and Knox counties, Nebraska, and Kansas. Norris, also an early settler who arrived near LaMoille in 1846, was a well-respected cattleman who built his own stockyard at Arlington to transport his cattle to Chicago. His farm outside LaMoille was where the famous trotting horse, Cleora, was born. She was later purchased for the record price of $15,000 in 1885 by none other than William Rockefeller.

Given that this year is the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a visit to Miller

steps lead to

Cemetery in Hall Township would be appropriate, as it is the final resting place of Edward H. Hall, a Revolutionary War soldier. Hall enlisted four times as a militiaman in various companies in North Carolina from 1779 to 1781, and

fought in the Battle of Lindley’s Mill. A large marker, placed there just over 20 years ago by the Princeton Chapter of the DAR, can be found at his gravesite, acknowledging Hall and his wife, Rachel, both of whom died in 1838.”

Cecille Gerber

CURRENT BOARD MEMBER AND FORMER VOLUNTEER DIRECTOR, TISKILWA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

“One of the oldest cemeteries in Bureau County, Mount Bloom Cemetery has stretched across the crest of the west bluff above Tiskilwa since 1865. Its tranquil surroundings and dedicated maintenance not only honor those who are ‘sleeping on the hill’ but also reflect the cultural significance of a time when families would climb the 76 steps of its historic stairway to visit graves, place

flowers, and perhaps enjoy a Sunday lunch in the serene, shaded setting. On special occasions in modern times, families still frequent the cemetery with flowers and memories.

Surprisingly, the Tiskilwa area has fourteen official cemeteries, some with only a few dozen graves, on the hills that surround the village. Add to that number the Potawatomi burial grounds of the area’s early residents in unmarked graves throughout the countryside.

In 1865, the newly formed Mt. Bloom

See GERBER, Page 8

Association purchased land from Peter and Jane Bloom east of their farmstead. Their daughter Catharine, who died in 1847, has the oldest gravestone in the property that later became Mt. Bloom. Over the years, additional property was purchased on the south side of the road, as well as seven acres on the north side. To date, almost 4,000 graves are in this cemetery.

The landmark feature of the old cemetery is a concrete stairway leading up the east bluff from the village. Completed in 1915 by G.W. Quick & Sons of Tiskilwa, these steps were preceded by two different sets of wooden steps. In the 19th century when the hilly road to the cemetery entrance was impassable with mud or snow, the coffins could be carried up the steps for burial.

In 2008, the quaint 1895 ‘Waiting Room’ was destroyed in a storm and local residents took

action. They formed The Friends of Mount Bloom to ensure the preservation of several features of this historic cemetery, including the steps which had fallen into disrepair, as well as the original metal archway, given away during a scrap metal drive in World War II.

Between 2008 and 2023, The Friends raised more than $25,000 in private donations to pay for four major projects, with the added volunteer labor of local blacksmiths, concrete workers, landscapers, heavy-equipment operators, and many others. In addition to the stairway restoration and facsimile archway at its base, the group installed a gazebo as a replacement central structure on the south side and later added a gateway arch over the entrance to the north side, to identify it as part of Mt. Bloom Cemetery.

When the projects were finished, The Friends transferred the remaining $4,275 to the cemetery association for maintenance of these special features.

One new feature, the gravesite

map installed in 2025, is a gift of Tiskilwa High School Class of 1973. Following their 50th high school reunion, class members donated funds to design, print, and install large metal maps at both Mount Bloom and St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, three miles south of the village. One class member, Pam Menery, became the driving force who logged all the graves in St. Mary’s and Mt. Bloom and coordinated GPS locations with findagrave.com. Pam plans to finish the project this summer to include numerous unmarked graves.

Today, when residents climb Mount Bloom’s steps for a nature walk or a fitness workout, many recall the site as their training ground as high school athletes or a hushed getaway for childhood adventures. Those who come throughout the year to honor family and friends or to research genealogy find a peaceful setting under a canopy of ancient oaks – a place not only to soothe the spirit but also to contemplate the past and future.”

PUTNAM COUNTY COMMUNITY CENTER

First St., P.O. Box 208 Standard, IL 61363 (815) 339-2711 or (800) 757-4579 pcaservices.org

• Information & Assistance Linking People to Benefit & Services

• Outreach Home Visits

• Congregate Meals Tues. & Thurs. ($8 Suggested Donation for those 60+)

• Certified SHIP Site (Medicare Help)

• Activities & Programs Tues. & Thurs.

• Lending Closet (Free Use of Medical Equipment)

• Family Caregiver Resources

• Alzheimer Disease & Related Disorder Services

• EngAGED Program (Reduces social isolation and loneliness among older adults)

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more information or to schedule an appointment

the QR code or call (815) 431-5746.

Promoting Independence

At Home Care helps clients remain at home as long as possible

Story & Photos by Shannon Serpette

Caregiving can be an intense, all-encompassing role to take on – and people who need some help to be able to remain living independently in their homes don’t always have family members who are able to take on the responsibilities. At Home Care in Peru can help in situations like that, assisting its clients so they can remain in the home they love, where they’ve made a lifetime of memories.

For owner Angela Dahl, taking good care of those who need it is a passion.

“My grandma is my inspiration,” Dahl said.

At Home Care caregivers can’t pro -

vide medical care, but they can assist with all the other tasks needed for independent living, such as grocery shopping, bathing, cooking meals, and light housework. They can take their clients to doctors’ appointments, run errands, remind them when it’s time to take medication, and more. In addition, they offer companionship.

“Companionship is a huge part of it,” Dahl said.

Caregivers frequently bring their clients to At Home Care’s office in Peru, where they can play games, do puzzles, or participate in group projects, such as a recent activity in which they made fairy gardens. Being able to bring their clients to the At Home Care office offers an important socialization opportunity that can help combat the loneliness and isolation people living on their own sometimes struggle to overcome.

Seeing clients stop by is one of the

highlights of Dahl’s days at work.

“We just love our clients,” she said. “We encourage independence.”

Currently, At Home Care, which is licensed in Illinois, bonded, and insured, serves LaSalle, Bureau, Putnam, and Grundy counties. They offer free consultations with prospective clients, so both parties can see whether At Home Care would be a good fit for the client’s particular circumstances and whether the work they need is within the company’s scope.

Dahl said the selective hiring process for caregivers is one of the things that makes At Home Care different than

other businesses like it. The caregivers who work for At Home Care are handpicked, interviewed, and tested for drugs. Dahl said they are very selective when hiring caregivers, perhaps hiring one out of every 30 or so applicants.

“We know our caregivers,” she said. “We are very picky about our caregivers. We can teach how to clean and do CPR, but you can’t teach empathy.”

At Home Care has multiple caregivers who have been with them for more than a decade, which is a long time in a field with notoriously high turnover rates.

“We do have a lot of CNAs who work for us,” Dahl said. “We have nursing students.”

Stage 212 gears up for another season

Story by Katlyn Sanden

STAGE

212, a community theater group in LaSalle, is gearing up for a year of great shows, and audiences will notice the extensive auditorium upgrades that have been completed.

“We just finished a big renovation in the auditorium,” said Larry Kelsey, a Stage 212 marketing team member. “We renovated the auditorium from top to bottom with brand new seats and improvements in sound quality. The seats are wider and farther apart, so people will have a more comfortable experience sitting and watching. It’s great to sit in the auditorium now. It’s been quite the undertaking.”

Kelsey said it’s been nearly 30 years since that room has seen any type of upgrade, and the team at Stage 212 believes these upgrades will enhance guests’ experience throughout the upcoming season.

In addition to these upgrades, guests can expect the same high-level entertainment they’ve come to love, with several shows planned for the year.

The Play That Goes Wrong will run from April 17-26. It’s set in the 1920’s as the cast tries to solve a murder, but when things keep falling apart, they are left to roll with it in what becomes a hilarious comedy and escape from real life.

“It’s become a cultural phenomenon,” Kelsey said. “It’s about an amateur theater group that basically anything that can go wrong will go wrong. It’s such a wonderful mess of everything that goes wrong. A lot of people are doing it all over the country.”

The Drowsy Chaperone runs from July 10-26. This show is about a devoted musical theater fan who brings to life his

“We just finished a big renovation in the auditorium. We renovated the auditorium from top to bottom with brand new seats and improvements in sound quality. ... It’s been quite the undertaking.”

Larry Kelsey Marketing Team Member

favorite 1920s show as he plays it on his record player. It follows the upcoming wedding of a Broadway star with several twists and turns.

“It’s a unique show,” Kelsey said. “It’s a musical-within-a-musical. It starts with a single person on the stage who prefers 1920’s music. There’s commentary, but it’s a full-blown musical going on at the same time.”

The Shark is Broken runs from November 13-22. It is set during the filming of Jaws in 1974, when the mechanical shark breaks down. It follows actors Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, and Roy Schneider as they’re confined to their boat.

“The show is a look behind the scenes from the making of Jaws,” Kelsey said. “These guys are sharing they had a lot of problems with the mechanical shark in the making of the movie, so this is what goes on between these three guys while they’re waiting on stuff to be fixed. It’s a very funny show, but it does have some language in it.”

In addition to these three shows, there

will also be one off-season show and one children’s show. There are also several camps and workshops open to both children and adults.

While Kelsey is looking forward to seeing all the shows this year, he’s especially excited about The Play That Goes Wrong because it’s a celebration of community theater.

“All of us that have spent any time in community theater know things go wrong,” Kelsey said. “There’s nothing you can do about it except roll with it. This show is just everything.”

For tickets or more information on the camps and workshops, visit www.stage212.org.

“I’m proud of Stage 212,” Kelsey said. “We do wonderful theater work, and it’s all volunteer. These people are sacrificing their time because they love doing this, and it’s wonderful being surrounded by that. It is shown in every show we do. It’s a great group of people to be involved with.”

Seattle Sutton, a long-time champion of using clean ingredients

Story by Shannon Serpette

Clean eating is now embraced as a mainstream concept, but long before social media influencers touted its benefits, Seattle Sutton was an advocate for it. The belief in fresh, real foods continues to be the major focus at Seattle Sutton still to this day.

“That commitment still guides us today. Every meal is free from artificial colors, artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners, hydrogenated fats, MSG,

See SUTTON, Page 18

“Well before ‘clean ingredients’ became popular, we have proudly served clean-label meals for over 40 years. Our founder, Seattle Sutton, believed fresh, wholesome food should never rely on artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners – just real ingredients prepared with care,” Rene Ficek, president and owner of Seattle Sutton, said.

With a wide variety of meals to choose from, it’s easy for customers to find Seattle Sutton meals that will become instant favorites in their households.

FROM PAGE 17

high-fructose corn syrup, and harmful preservatives. We follow strict ingredient standards, excluding more than 60 ingredients, including every item the Center for Science in the Public Interest rates as ‘avoid.’”

While clean eating can benefit everyone, older adults may face particular challenges that make food services like Seattle Sutton a valuable resource.

“Dietary needs shift as we age, and adults 55-plus often face health changes that make balanced, portion-controlled nutrition essential for staying active and feeling their best,” Ficek said.

“Bone density and muscle mass naturally decline –especially for women after menopause. Metabolism slows, insulin sensitivity drops, and weight gain and Type II diabetes become

more common. Blood pressure and cardiovascular risks rise, and increased salt sensitivity doesn’t help. On top of that, nutrient absorption decreases, affecting everything from hydration to brain and eye health,” she added.

Seattle Sutton’s Healthy Eating can play a crucial role in keeping seniors on track with their nutritional goals – something that can be difficult for them to do on their own, especially if they need to shop for all the ingredients, find healthy recipes, and cook everything from scratch.

“Seattle Sutton’s Healthy Eating makes eating well simple with portion- and calorie-controlled meal plans that meet the standards of the American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Our meals follow Mediterranean diet principles – a pattern fre-

quently recommended by doctors for heart health, weight control, and longevity,” Ficek said.

“We also see many customers on GLP-1 medications find our meals especially helpful, since these medications make portion size and nutrient quality more important than ever. Having balanced, protein-rich, thoughtfully designed meals takes the guesswork out of eating well while supporting results and overall health,” she said.

Seattle Sutton’s easy meals can help everyone reach their goals –whether they are focusing on health or weight loss.

“Our meals are designed for almost everyone – whether you have specific health goals or simply want to eat better every day. Healthy eating should be enjoyable for life, and more people than ever are looking for food that tastes great and

supports their well-being,” Ficek said.

“Our 1,200-calorie, dietitian-designed plan is ideal for those looking to lose weight, while our 2,000-calorie plan supports higher calorie needs, active lifestyles, and fitness goals. Both options are portion- and calorie-controlled and have helped tens of thousands of customers improve conditions such as prediabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and more,” she said.

Seattle Sutton offers their clients options as well, so they can find an eating plan that’s just right for them.

“The dietitian-designed meal plans are available in the Signature menu, Signature menu without seafood, and a plant-

based vegetarian option. Customers can choose to order either 4 days or 7 days of meals per week. While a subscription is never required, many customers find it a very convenient way to order,” Ficek said.

Just recently, Seattle Sutton added a Choose Your Own Meals plan so customers can pick their favorite meals or meals they want to try, and it’s been a big hit, according to Ficek.

“Customers can now mix and match breakfast, lunch, and dinner from all meals available on our rotating weekly menu. Some items, like our Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast and Beef Pot Roast, have become instant favorites, with many customers ordering multiples each week,” she said.

“When you select Choose Your Own Meals on our website, you’ll find helpful filters that make choosing easy. You can sort meals by your dietary needs and preferences, including heart-healthy, protein-packed, low-sodium, diabetes-friendly, kidney care, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. It’s flexible, convenient, and tailored to how you want to eat,” Ficek said.

Seattle Sutton ships its meals nationwide, but there are also five pickup locations spread throughout the Illinois Valley in Mendota, Ottawa, Peru, Princeton, and Streator.

“These local locations also offer local delivery from our own Seattle Sutton’s Healthy Eating delivery drivers,” Ficek said.