Rudy L. Belling

Rudy L. “Rocky” Belling, 84, died Monday, May 5.
Funeral services were held Friday, May 9, at St. Alexander Church in Villa Park. Interment with military honors was held at Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Hillside.
Mr. Belling was the husband of the late Grace A.; father of Jim Belling, Patrick Belling, Tim (Laura) Belling and Kathleen Burgess; grandfather of seven; and brother of Raymond and Robert (Nancy) Belling.
Mr. Belling was a U.S. Army and Navy Veteran, and was a longtime resident of Villa Park.
Arrangements were made by Steuerle Funeral Home, 350 S. Ardmore Ave., Villa Park. For information, call 630-832-4161 or visit www.steuerlefh.com.

Helen Asper Gray

Helen Asper Gray passed away peacefully in the presence of her three children on April 25, 2014, in Las Vegas. She was 89- or 90-years old, having been born on March 22, or 21 or maybe 20, in 1925 or 1924. No one will ever know for sure.
Likewise, her maiden name might have been Grace Ada Asper, but it was never confirmed by her or anyone else. What is indisputable is that three children called her “Mom.” She was also affectionately known as solely as “Nan” to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren over the last third century.
Nan’s tired body just called it quits. If love could have trumped death, she would have outlived us all. She was cremated and now resides next to her husband’s ashes in her daughter’s Las Vegas home.
Her husband of 64 years, Robert Edmund (Bob) Gray, passed away on January 2, 2013. She was also predeceased by her six siblings and their spouses: Adele (Gus), Mikey, Annie, Lena, Mary Jane (Col. John), and Dolores (Joe). She maintained to her Dying Day that she was the prettiest of the six sisters, a contention unlikely to be challenged (on this Earth, anyway).
Helen was born to Michael and Amelia Asper in Jacksonville Borough, Indiana County, PA, and grew up in the nearby coal-mining town of Blairsville. She earned a degree in nursing from Shadyside Hospital in Pittsburgh before marrying Bob in Blawnox, PA, on April 3, 1948. She and Bob relocated from Blairsville to Lombard, IL, in 1955. By 1987, they were both retired. By 1993, they were annual cool-season residents of Port Charlotte, FL, until driven out by Hurricane Charlie in August 2004. They spent most of the next eight years in Joliet, IL, before relocating to Las Vegas in July 2012.
Helen was a nurse in the office of Dr. Van Gorder’s Lombard, IL, private practice long before the acronym “HMO” was coined. In 1964, she became part of the original nursing staff when Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, IL, opened its doors.
It was easy, judging from her demeanor and predilection to accidents, to conclude that she was a bit scatterbrained. The truth was quite the opposite; she was at her best when required by the situation-at-hand. She was adept at and dedicated to her profession, sufficiently so to be designated, “Nurse of the Year” in the 1970s. She was a junior master bridge player. Operating a motor vehicle wasn’t her forte as she demonstrated on many occasions to her consternation. And she always seemed to burn the toast. Maybe this was because she liked burnt toast…?
Nan was many things, but ordinary or boring were not among them. After a Heart Full of Love, perhaps her signature characteristic was the fact that she worried only about others – friends and family – and never herself. Her legend will live on through the generations via innumerable humorous and heartwarming stories.
She is survived by her sons Michael (Margaret) of Laguna Hills, CA, and John (Heather) of Herndon, VA; and by daughter Jamie (Frank) of Las Vegas; and their six children and Jamie’s five grandchildren. Her family and friends are immeasurably richer for this fine, nurturing, and loving woman who had as many talents as idiosyncrasies, and will hold her in our hearts forevermore.

Robert Edmund Gray

Robert Edmund Gray passed away peacefully in Las Vegas on January 2, 2013, two weeks shy of his 91st birthday. His body, but not his mind, just gave up on him. He was cremated and now rests next to his wife’s ashes in their daughter’s Las Vegas home.
He was affectionately known as “Gak” – a name bestowed by his then-young grandchild Kelly – to his six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren over the last third century. “Fat Guy,” conferred on him some three decades ago by Kelly’s sister Janet to his considerable amusement, didn’t stick with anyone other than his younger son John. He was “Bob” to most everyone else.
His wife of 64 years, Helen Asper Gray, joined him in the Afterlife on April 25, 2014. He was the last of his four siblings – William (Bardele) Bartholemew Gray, Margaret Mary Lehan, Kathryn Margaret Flinn, and Richard Henry Gray – to pass on.
Bob was born on January 16, 1922, to William and Flora Gray in a 2nd-floor bedroom in their Blawnox, PA, home. He married Helen in Blawnox on April 3, 1948. They relocated from Blairsville to Lombard, IL, in 1955. In 1993, they retired seasonally in Port Charlotte, FL, until August 2004 when Hurricane Charlie chased them permanently from Florida. They resided most of the next eight in Joliet, IL, before relocating to Las Vegas in July 2012.
Bob worked in the construction machinery sales business. He started with Blaw-Knox Co., Pittsburgh, in 1947. In 1955, he transferred to their Chicago office as Midwest District Sales Manager, and was promoted to National Sales Manager in 1960. He left Blaw-Knox in 1962 to become Vice President/Sales Manager for Western Contractors Equipment in Northlake, Illinois. By 1984, he was a primary owner of Western Contractors. He sold much of the concrete equipment used to construct large sections of the Illinois Toll Road system. His elder son Mike was proud to follow his father’s footsteps into a career in the construction machinery business.
Bob was an avid golfer, having a standing early Sunday tee time at Gleneagles Country Club in Lemont, IL. He and Helen enjoyed playing four-handed partner euchre, but were prone to having their deal stolen by unscrupulous and mirthful adult children and spouses. He would acquiesce to taking his three young children to Villa Park for Cock Robin ice cream if beseeched to do so by the Apple of his Eye, his daughter Jamie (who was put up to the hustle by her two brothers).
He and his wife found immense enjoyment in their grandchildren. In fact, there is little doubt that if they had known how much fun grandchildren would be, they would have had them first.
He had a quick wit, easygoing demeanor, a smile to light up a room, a laugh to fill a heart, endless entertaining tales from the Days of Yore, and an abundance of love. He was the kind of guy everyone wanted to be around.
He is survived by his sons Michael (Margaret) of Laguna Hills, CA, and John (Heather) of Herndon, VA; and by daughter Jamie (Frank) of Las Vegas; along with all six of their children and Jamie’s five grandchildren. He was a beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, husband, and the Best Friend imaginable. He will remain in our hearts forevermore.

Lucille M. Price

Lucille M. Price 92, of Palm Harbor, Fla., formerly of Villa Park, died Monday, May 12, in Palm Harbor.
Visitation is Friday May 16, at Steuerle Funeral Home, 350 S. Ardmore Ave, Villa Park, where services will be held on Saturday May 17. Interment was at Elmwood Cemetery, River Grove.
Mrs. Price was the wife of the late Archie Price; sister of Walter (Shirley) Kozlow and the late Wallace (Ann) Szadde; and aunt and great-aunt of several.
Mrs. Price was the co-owner of Pedersen-Ryberg Mortuary in Elmhurst and former co-owner of Steuerle Funeral Home, Villa Park.
For information, call 630-832-4161 or visit www.steuerlefh.com.

John David Walz

John David Walz, 76, of Lombard, died Sunday, May 4, at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood.
Mr. Walz is survived by his wife, Donna; children, David (Cathy), Tim (Mindy) and Kristin (Alexander); and eight grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Isabel; sister, Mary Jo; and brother. Robert.
Funeral services were held Saturday, May 10, St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lombard.
Mr. Walz was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minn., moved with his wife to Illinois in 1964, and has lived in Lombard for 38 years. His career as a management accountant was spent serving faith-based and community not-for-profit organizations, including, most recently, Lutheran Education Association and Bright Stars of Bethlehem.
Mr. Walz served on numerous boards and committees at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Wheatridge Ministries, Lutheran Home of Arlington Heights and elsewhere.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Lombard (www.stjohnslombard.org), Wheat Ridge Ministries, Itasca, Ill. (www.wheatridge.org); or Bright Stars of Bethlehem, Mt. Morris, Ill. (www.brightstarsbethlehem.org).
Arrangements were made by Brust Funeral Home, 135 S. Main St., Lombard. For more information, visit www.brustfuneralhome.com or call 888-629-0094.

Aleen R. Wine

Aleen R. Wine, 92, formerly of Villa Park, passed away in her home in Wheaton on Friday, April 25.
She is predeceased by her husbands, R. H. Wine and Edward L. Meyer; her son, Edward A. Meyer; and her sister, Mary Helen Hower. She is survived by her daughters, Bonnie Yarke (Herbert) and Susan Meyer; and her sister Dolores Finke (Edgar); four grandchildren, Kiki Harris (Shane), Denise Meiste (Mark), Beth Sieglinger and David Sieglinger (Beth); and five great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church at 101 S. 6th Ave., in St. Charles, Ill., on May 19, 2014, at 11 a.m.