ROCK FALLS - Lita Grabeklis, 89, went to her Lord on Friday, Oct. 7, 2011.
She was born Dec. 17, 1921, in Laucesa's County, Latvia, the daughter of Janis and Anna (Schelinski) Rokovics. She married Janis Grabeklis in 1941, in Latvia. He died in 1993. She received her formal education in Latvia and, after World War II, emigrated to the United States in the summer of 1950.
After a brief 6-month stay near Columbus, Miss., she and her husband, with their two sons, settled in Rock Falls. Subsequently she began her teaching career as an assistant kindergarten teacher. In 1963, she received her Master of Science degree in special education and guidance from Northern Illinois University. She taught in Rock Falls elementary schools for 29 years, retiring in 1982. During this time, she was honored as the Whiteside County Teacher of the Year, and was a member of DKG and several other professional organizations.
After her retirement she became involved in numerous civil endeavors. She served on the Rock Falls District 13 school board for 6 years; was a candidate for Congress in 1986-87; and served as the northwest division legislative chairperson for the Illinois School Board Association.
Surviving her are one son, Jerry (Sherry) Grabeklis of Del Rio, Texas; two grandchildren, Jay and Laura (John) Plumb; two great-grandchildren, Austin and Millicent; and numerous relatives in Latvia, Siberia and Japan.
She also was preceded in death by one son, Andris Grabeklis; her parents; and two brothers.
Visitation will be from 9 to 10 a.m., followed by the funeral at 10 a.m., Thursday at McDonald Funeral Home in Rock Falls, with the Rev. Henrietta Milner of Immanuel Lutheran Church officiating. Burial will be at Coloma Township Cemetery in Rock Falls.
A memorial has been established to Happy Tails Animal Shelter.
Taken from:
The Dixon Telegraph
Dixon, Lee Co., IL.
Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011
Page A4 - Col. 1-2
She was born Dec. 17, 1921, in Laucesa's County, Latvia, the daughter of Janis and Anna (Schelinski) Rokovics. She married Janis Grabeklis in 1941, in Latvia. He died in 1993. She received her formal education in Latvia and, after World War II, emigrated to the United States in the summer of 1950.
After a brief 6-month stay near Columbus, Miss., she and her husband, with their two sons, settled in Rock Falls. Subsequently she began her teaching career as an assistant kindergarten teacher. In 1963, she received her Master of Science degree in special education and guidance from Northern Illinois University. She taught in Rock Falls elementary schools for 29 years, retiring in 1982. During this time, she was honored as the Whiteside County Teacher of the Year, and was a member of DKG and several other professional organizations.
After her retirement she became involved in numerous civil endeavors. She served on the Rock Falls District 13 school board for 6 years; was a candidate for Congress in 1986-87; and served as the northwest division legislative chairperson for the Illinois School Board Association.
Surviving her are one son, Jerry (Sherry) Grabeklis of Del Rio, Texas; two grandchildren, Jay and Laura (John) Plumb; two great-grandchildren, Austin and Millicent; and numerous relatives in Latvia, Siberia and Japan.
She also was preceded in death by one son, Andris Grabeklis; her parents; and two brothers.
Visitation will be from 9 to 10 a.m., followed by the funeral at 10 a.m., Thursday at McDonald Funeral Home in Rock Falls, with the Rev. Henrietta Milner of Immanuel Lutheran Church officiating. Burial will be at Coloma Township Cemetery in Rock Falls.
A memorial has been established to Happy Tails Animal Shelter.
Taken from:
The Dixon Telegraph
Dixon, Lee Co., IL.
Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011
Page A4 - Col. 1-2
ROCK FALLS - Lita Grabeklis, 89, went to her Lord on Friday, Oct. 7, 2011.
She was born Dec. 17, 1921, in Laucesa's County, Latvia, the daughter of Janis and Anna (Schelinski) Rokovics. She married Janis Grabeklis in 1941, in Latvia. He died in 1993. She received her formal education in Latvia and, after World War II, emigrated to the United States in the summer of 1950.
After a brief 6-month stay near Columbus, Miss., she and her husband, with their two sons, settled in Rock Falls. Subsequently she began her teaching career as an assistant kindergarten teacher. In 1963, she received her Master of Science degree in special education and guidance from Northern Illinois University. She taught in Rock Falls elementary schools for 29 years, retiring in 1982. During this time, she was honored as the Whiteside County Teacher of the Year, and was a member of DKG and several other professional organizations.
After her retirement she became involved in numerous civil endeavors. She served on the Rock Falls District 13 school board for 6 years; was a candidate for Congress in 1986-87; and served as the northwest division legislative chairperson for the Illinois School Board Association.
Surviving her are one son, Jerry (Sherry) Grabeklis of Del Rio, Texas; two grandchildren, Jay and Laura (John) Plumb; two great-grandchildren, Austin and Millicent; and numerous relatives in Latvia, Siberia and Japan.
She also was preceded in death by one son, Andris Grabeklis; her parents; and two brothers.
Visitation will be from 9 to 10 a.m., followed by the funeral at 10 a.m., Thursday at McDonald Funeral Home in Rock Falls, with the Rev. Henrietta Milner of Immanuel Lutheran Church officiating. Burial will be at Coloma Township Cemetery in Rock Falls.
A memorial has been established to Happy Tails Animal Shelter.
Taken from:
The Dixon Telegraph
Dixon, Lee Co., IL.
Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011
Page A4 - Col. 1-2
She was born Dec. 17, 1921, in Laucesa's County, Latvia, the daughter of Janis and Anna (Schelinski) Rokovics. She married Janis Grabeklis in 1941, in Latvia. He died in 1993. She received her formal education in Latvia and, after World War II, emigrated to the United States in the summer of 1950.
After a brief 6-month stay near Columbus, Miss., she and her husband, with their two sons, settled in Rock Falls. Subsequently she began her teaching career as an assistant kindergarten teacher. In 1963, she received her Master of Science degree in special education and guidance from Northern Illinois University. She taught in Rock Falls elementary schools for 29 years, retiring in 1982. During this time, she was honored as the Whiteside County Teacher of the Year, and was a member of DKG and several other professional organizations.
After her retirement she became involved in numerous civil endeavors. She served on the Rock Falls District 13 school board for 6 years; was a candidate for Congress in 1986-87; and served as the northwest division legislative chairperson for the Illinois School Board Association.
Surviving her are one son, Jerry (Sherry) Grabeklis of Del Rio, Texas; two grandchildren, Jay and Laura (John) Plumb; two great-grandchildren, Austin and Millicent; and numerous relatives in Latvia, Siberia and Japan.
She also was preceded in death by one son, Andris Grabeklis; her parents; and two brothers.
Visitation will be from 9 to 10 a.m., followed by the funeral at 10 a.m., Thursday at McDonald Funeral Home in Rock Falls, with the Rev. Henrietta Milner of Immanuel Lutheran Church officiating. Burial will be at Coloma Township Cemetery in Rock Falls.
A memorial has been established to Happy Tails Animal Shelter.
Taken from:
The Dixon Telegraph
Dixon, Lee Co., IL.
Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011
Page A4 - Col. 1-2
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