Gigi Messina

Gigi Messina, 59, of Lombard, died Thursday, Aug. 16, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove.
A memorial gathering and service will be held Saturday, Aug. 25, at Brust Funeral Home, 135 S. Main St.,
Mrs. Messina is survived by her children, Lauren and Joseph. She was preceded in death by her husband of 25 years, Robert.
Mrs. Messina felt her greatest accomplishment was bringing her son and daughter into this world with a man she loved dearly. The love, compassion and happiness she brought to everyone will be missed by all, especially her children. In addition to being a mother, she was a teacher, best friend and role model whose actions and beliefs will be passed down by her children to future generations.
Call 630-629-0094 or visit www.brustfuneralhome.com for more information.

William Mueller

William J. “Bill” Mueller, 76, of Lombard, died Saturday, Aug. 18.
Visitation will be Friday, Aug. 24, from 3-9 p.m. at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 1025 E. Madison St., Lombard.
A funeral Mass will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at St. Pius X Catholic Church. Interment will be at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside.
Mr. Mueller is survived by his beloved wife, Eileen, nee Rogers; daughters, Debbie (Keith) Rapata of Hanover Park and Donna (Mark) Fruehe of Lombard; grandchildren, K.J. of Hanover Park, Stephen of Lombard, Mikey of Lombard and Ashley of Hanover Park; brother, Thomas M. (June) of Georgetown, Texas; nieces and nephews, Mike (Jenny) Mueller, Jim Mueller, Chris Williams, Cheryl (Jim) Maynard, Don Wesolowicz, Sandy Wesolowicz, and Mike, Mary, Kelly and Ann Harrington; sisters-in-law, Carol (Don) Wesolowicz, Lucille Rogers and Mary Harrington; brother-in-law, Francis (Rose) Rogers; a special cousin, Ann Ahern; and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his nephew, Joe Harrington.
Mr. Mueller was raised in Lombard by his parents, Joseph and Dolorosa, nee Muldoon, Mueller. His grandparents had farmed on Swift Road. He attended St. Philip’s High School in Chicago and had served with the Illinois Air National Guard. Shortly after he returned to Lombard in 1965, he opened the Bill Mueller Insurance Agency on Westmore Avenue, and retired in 2005.
He served as village president since 1993, having begun his fifth consecutive term in May 2009; he was the longest-serving village president in Lombard’s history. Mr. Mueller served as a member of the village’s Safety Committee; the Lombard Youth Commission and the Lombard Chamber of Commerce and Industry, where he served as president for two years; was a village trustee, serving as chair of the Public Works Committee; and was a member and chair of the DuPage Community Development Commission.
Mr. Mueller had been a member of the Lombard Plan Commission; co-chair of the Glenbard Wastewater Authority; chairman of DuComm; vice chairman of the DuPage Water Commission; a member of the DuPage Convention and Visitors Bureau; past president and current member of the DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference; and was a member of the board of governors for Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare.
He was a member of St. Pius X Church since 1966, where he had been a Cubmaster and committee chairman for Pack #140; served on the school’s board of education, including as president for two years; was a member of the Father Boecker Council #6090, Knights of Columbus, where he was grand knight for a year; and was a member of the parish council, serving as president for three years and as chairman of the Administration Committee.
Mr. Mueller had been a chairman and was involved in Cub leader training for Kitigan District, DuPage Area Council, Boy Scouts of America; had been an adult adviser for Junior Achievement; chairman of the Benefit Dance for Central DuPage Hospital; a Republican committeeman for Precinct #96; president of the Eastgate Merchants Association; a member of Citizens for Parks and “Project 26” with the Lombard Park District; a member of the Lombard YMCA Century Club and also a member of the board of directors; a member of Memorial Hospital Century Club; a member of the Good Samaritan Hospital Club; and a member of the 100 Club of DuPage County and the Newman Century Club.
Please omit flowers. Memorials would be appreciated to your favorite Lombard charity, such as St. Pius X Catholic Church, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, Tri-Town YMCA, the Lombard Historical Society Carriage House Fund or the Deicke Home.
Arrangements were made by Brust Funeral Home, 135 S. Main St., Lombard. Call 630-629-0094 or visit www.brustfuneralhome.com for more information.

Irene Norton

Irene “Marie” Norton, nee Nellessen, 91, former longtime resident of Lombard, passed away on Monday, Aug. 6, in Senatobia, Miss.
A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church, 115 S. Main St., Lombard, on Saturday, Sept. 1, at 11 a.m., with visitation at 10 a.m. Interment will be a private service at Memorial Park Cemetery, Skokie.
Marie was the loving mother of her daughter, Lynn Hobbs of Senatobia, Miss.; her son, Lawrence Norton of Elmhurst, Ill.; her stepson, Jerald (Bru) Norton of Phoenix, Ariz.; beloved sister of James (Sue) Nellessen of New York; cherished grandmother of Lori Norton, Kristy (Chris) Watkins, Robert Norton, Diana (Chad) Herdt, Yvonne Norton, Jerry Jr. (Hope) Norton and David (Sharon) Norton; and of 16 great grandchildren. She is survived by several beloved nieces, nephews and special friends. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Lozell “Bill” Norton; and her sister, Rosalie Licskowski.
Mrs. Norton was born in Evanston, Ill., on June 24, 1921, to James E. and Nellie Irene Thursby Nellessen. She was a resident of Lombard for 32 years before moving to Mississippi in 1994. In her younger years, she was a dancer and one of her proudest moments was being chosen to dance on the Midway at the Chicago’s World’s Fair in 1933.
She was an active member of the Methodist Church throughout her life and loved nothing more than being surrounded by family and friends. She will be greatly missed by many.

Nazario Penas

Nazario Penas, 74, of Lombard, died Wednesday, Aug. 15, in Lombard.
Visitation was held Friday, Aug. 17, at Brust Funeral Home, 135 S. Main St., Lombard. Interment was private at Mt. Carmel Cemetery.
Mr. Penas is survived by his wife of 50 years, Lucy; sons, Roberto (Janice) and Enrico; and five grandchildren.
Mr. Penas was a resident of Lombard since 1979. He loved to golf and loved the opera and classical music. He collected records and also loved to travel the world.
Call 630-629-0094 or visit www.brustfuneralhome.com for more information.

Alice Routson

Alice Routson, 95, a longtime resident of Lombard, passed away peacefully on Aug. 20. 
Private graveside services will be held.
She was the beloved wife of the late James Routson and dear mother of Kathy (Ralph) Transue, Joan (Richard) Angevine and the late James William. She was loved by her grandchildren, John (Kirsten) Transue and Jenny (Paul) Gallo; and her sweet great-grandchildren James, Adam, Lexi and Soren.

Robert Witting

Funeral services for Robert W. Witting, 74, of Myrtle Beach, S.C., formerly of Lombard, were held Tuesday, Aug. 21, at Steuerle Funeral Home, 350 S. Ardmore Ave., Villa Park. Interment was at Lakewood Memorial Park in Elgin.
Mr. Witting is survived by his wife, Norma Jean; children, Bea Hantzis, Karen (Chuck) Pickerill, Randy and Kathy (Gary) Nolet; 15 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to St. Jude Children’s Hospital would be appreciated.