NORMAL - Jerald M. Rider, 63, of 4 Hundman Court, Normal, died at 9 a.m. Monday (March 6, 2006) at his residence.

His funeral service will be 2 p.m. Friday at the Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington, the Rev. David Benner officiating. Burial will be in East Lawn Memorial Gardens, Bloomington. Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the memorial home.

Memorials may be made to OSF Hospice program, Bloomington.

He was born Sept. 4, 1942, at Bloomington, to Clayton and Seraphia Schopp Rider. He married Charlene Mann. She precedes him in death. He later married Sherry Ostergaard Henderson Aug. 4, 1990, at Funks Grove, rural McLean. She survives.

Surviving are his mother, Seraphia Rider, Minier; three sons, Jerry Rider, Robert (Olga Cardiel) Rider and James Rider, all of Bloomington; two daughters, Angie (Gene) Allison, Kampsville, and Kim Ramsey, Bloomington; three stepsons, David (Josh Miller) Henderson, Peoria; Daniel Henderson, Bloomington; and Douglas (Misty) Henderson, LeRoy; one sister, Sharon (Royle) Campbell, Springfield; and seven grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his father and three brothers, Ronald, Dale and Terry Rider.

Jerry had worked at General Electric, Bloomington, for 28 years until he retired in 1995. Jerry enjoyed fishing, playing pool and woodworking. He was very fond of his doggies, Kodi and Lady.

Ida Margaret Thiel

BLOOMINGTON - Ida Margaret "Peggy" Thiel, 84, of Paris, the mother of a Bloomington resident and the fifth daughter of Godfrey and Okel Weber, died at 7:30 p.m. Thursday (March 2, 2006) at Carle Hospital, Urbana. She was a well known retired teacher.

Funeral services were conducted on Monday at First Christian Church in Paris, with Rev. Michael C. Dixon officiating. Burial followed in Edgar Cemetery.

Mrs. Thiel was born near Westfield on Feb. 23, 1922. Her family moved to Symmes Township, south of Paris, when she was 10 years old. She married local farmer, Glen O. Thiel, who survives, on April 25, 1945, in Arcola. The wedding was performed by their former minister, Rev. Hays.

She was the mother of one son, Dennis O. (Jeanne) Thiel of Paris, and one daughter, Gina (Eitan) Thiel Weltman of Bloomington. She was the proud grandmother of granddaughter, Sonnee Thiel of St. Louis, Mo., grandson, Lewis Thiel of Paris, and granddaughters, Talor Weltman and Lindsey Weltman of Bloomington. She is also survived by four sisters, Forrest Hendricks of Cadillac, Mich., Reta Smittkamp of Paris, Betty James of Rantoul, and Shirley Ross of Paris.

She was preceded in death by one sister, Thursa Smittkamp.

Mrs. Thiel received her teaching certificate from EISTC, now known as Eastern Illinois University. She began teaching at Patrick School, a one-room country school house with 18 students in 2nd through 8th grades. She loved it. It was the only teaching job she ever applied for. She was sought to teach in three other one-room schools thereafter; Bell Ridge School, Walls School and Jefferson School. She was a teacher for homebound children for several years before being asked to teach at Crestwood School. Mrs. Thiel taught 1st grade at Crestwood for 18 years before retiring in 1983.

Mrs. Thiel was a member and officer of Bell Ridge Home and Community Unit, local and county. She was treasurer of the Christian Rural Overseas Program (CROP) for 10 years. She was a life member of the Retired Teachers Association. She was also a member of the Paris B.B. Club for over 60 years.

She was an active member of First Christian Church, Paris. Among church activities she was Chairman of Christian Education and Sunday School Superintendent for multiple years. She was a Christian Women's Fellowship leader and helped organize the Shalom Circle. She was also a charter member of the Joyful Ringers Bell Choir. She was also named First Christian Woman of the Year.

Peggy was a published poet and loved to tell jokes and riddles. She loved music, playing softball and basketball, and was an avid Fighting Illini fan. But most of all she loved being with her family.

Donations in Peggy's memory may be made to the First Christian Church or a charity of the donor's choice.