- Date Of Birth: January 31, 1978
- Date Of Death: April 8, 2016
- State: Illinois
Stanley Arthur Wolff 91 of Centralia passed away July 26th, 2013 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Centralia.
Mr. Wolff was born May 12, 1922 in Vandalia, IL the son of John & Sadie (Gelsinger) Wolff. He married Frances Hamilton on June 27, 1941 in St. Charles, Missouri and she preceded him in death on September 23, 2011.
Mr. Wolff is survived by one son Gary Wolff and wife Paulette of Daytona Beach, Florida; seven grandchildren, Roger Wolff and wife LuAnn and Randy Wolff and wife Jodi all of Centralia, Brent Wolff and wife Deborah of Granger, IN, Lee Wolff and wife Kari of McKinney, Texas, Misty Hack and husband Ron of Vernon, and DeWane Bassen and wife Jane and Randy Bassen and wife Sherri, all of Centralia; 13 great grandchildren, Craig Wolff and wife Dr. Elizabeth Wolff, Andy, Chelsea, Elizabeth and Kailey Wolff, Justin Hack and wife Kerri, Shannon Hack, Chrissy Slagley and husband Bill, Ethan and Alec Bassen, and Tori, Chase and Jackson Slagley; one great-great grandson Zachary Wolff; and three special nieces Gayla Wolff, Sue Ann Crawford and husband Jim and Janet Marsh. Mr. Wolff was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Frances, one sister, and three brothers. Mr. Wolff was owner of City Auto Sales. Before owning and operating the car dealership he worked for Ford, Grapp Buick, and Monkens. Stanley was a Mason and a life member of the Shriners. He was also a life member of the Elks Lodge. He enjoyed golfing and was a basketball player during his high school years.Ryan Michael Nevins, 38, passed away Friday, April 8th, 2016 ending his battle with cancer. A Celebration of Ryans life will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 13, at Crossbridge Community Church of the Nazarene with the Rev.Kevin Donoho, Pastor, Officiating. Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the Church. Arrangements are through the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
A resident born and raised in Ottawa, IL many people knew him by many different names:
As a teacher at Bigfork, Oswego and Ottawa Township High School, he was simply Mr. Nevins; a teacher fueled by his passion for great stories, independent thinking, and creative writing. His classroom was a challenging yet supportive environment filled with a love of literature, high expectations, and music (especially a love of all things Radiohead). Like a symphony conductor he orchestrated his classroom and influenced and inspired countless students.
His teammates and friends called him Nevins, rarely Ryan. Like a sun, people gravitated towards him. Full of positive energy and a zest for life, he was the perfect confidant, accomplice, leader, instigator, and listener who was humbly honest and fiercely loyal.
To his sister and brother, Nina and Nate, he was Ry. A trio of personalities bound by their love of family and each other. Their expanding families welcomed new roles as brother-in-law to Brian and sister-in-law to Ashley, and his most cherished new role, Uncle Ryan, to his handsome nephews Barret and Soren and beautiful niece Gray. The playful, loving kid in Uncle Ryan emerged in their presence fueled by an ornery energy evident by a devilish grin Ryans parents surely quickly recognized.
Ryans wonderful parents Mike and Joy Nevins, married forty years, knew him as their son. The love and pride they felt cannot be expressed in words: glories as #44 on the Ottawa football field, graduation and four year letter-winner as a student-athlete at the University of Missouri, ultimate role model as a family man; Ryan gave his parents an infinite number of memories to smile upon, cherish, and share.
Ryan had no greater joy in his life above being called Daddy by his beautiful children Witt (12) and Harper (10). Named after his favorite authors (Walt Whitman and Harper Lee), the depth of love he has for his children is limitless. He imprinted a lifetime of lessons that will define them forever and shape them through adulthood.
And to his wonderfully amazing wife, Rikki; well, what they call each other well leave between just the two of them as they know a love most of us only strive for. College sweet-hearts from day one at Mizzou, their love filled two lifetimes in their fourteen years of marriage.
Regardless of the name you called Ryan, all are invited to celebrate and honor this fiercely loyal, dry and sarcastic, incredibly witty and most genuine, loving man. The family welcomes all who wish to attend to know Ryan by one more name, angel, as now comes good sailing in heaven, and he watches over all of us.
In lieu of flowers, people may donate to a scholarship fund to be established for Witt and Harper Nevins.
