Anna M. Erhart, 89, lifetime resident of Andalusia, passed away peacefully Friday, Dec. 21, 2012, at Trinity Rock Island. A memorial mass will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 29 at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Taylor Ridge, where visitation will be one hour prior to services. Inurnment will be at Andalusia Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Anna M. Erhart memorial fund, to be designated later in her honor within her residential community or the Catholic Church. Anna was born March 2, 1923, in Andalusia, the daughter of Otto and Mary (Johnson) Maucker. She married John "Judge" Erhart on Dec. 8, 1945 in Rock Island. He preceded her in death on March 10, 1982. Anna was a remarkable and loving wife and mother. She enjoyed being a homemaker, and caring for her grandchildren and great grandchildren. In earlier years, Anna worked at the former Illinois Bell. She later worked at the former Eagles Warehouse in Milan and Von Maur department store in Moline. Her Christian faith and belief were central in her life. She was a devout Catholic and lifelong member of St. Patrick Catholic Church. She was passionate about keeping her home nice and for many years enjoyed mowing and tending her yard. She was a wonderful cook and was always cooking for others. She was sincerely generous and kind hearted and will be greatly missed by all those she touched. Surviving are her children, Marianne Tibbetts, Moline, Susan (Chip) Francis, East Moline, and Frances Erhart, Moline; grandchildren, Pat and Jamie Viren, Ryan and Jaci Viren, Adrienne and Jill Warren, Daisy Tibbetts and Andrew Francis; eight great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; lifelong friend, Alice Madison, Andalusia; and special friends, Theresa Mack and Pat Richardson. Anna is preceded in death by her parents; husband; son and daughter-in-law, Daniel and Diana Erhart; and one brother, Otto Maucker Jr. The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the heart surgeons at Trinity Rock Island as well as the nurses and staff of the surgical intensive care unit, the 4 South nursing staff, and Trinity Hospital's Dr. Shah. Their kindness and care of Anna will never be forgotten. Online condolences may be left for the family at wheelanpressly.com
Today is Tuesday, May 21, the 141st day of 2013. There are 224 days left in the year. 1863 -- 150 years ago: On Monday the 11th inst. on Center Ridge in Mercer County,some citizens got out their cannon to celebrate the taking of Richmond. The gun wasoverloaded and burst. No one was injured, but one 30-pound piece went though thesecond story of a house. 1888 -- 125 years ago: The old folks concert at the Harper Theater last night to benefit St.Luke's Cottage Hospital, attracted a large audience. 1913 -- 100 years ago: Unless depredation by vandals in Rock Island parks is halted,special policemen will be assigned to night duty to protect the flowers and other property. 1938 -- 75 years ago: Station WHBF has received a special citation from Washington forits participation in Air Mail Week, which was observed this week throughout the nation. 1963 -- 50 years ago: A 10-year high in employment in the Quad-City area was reachedat the end of the last quarter, according to an industrial employment barometer releasedtoday. 1988 -- 25 years ago: Pee Wee teams will be able to play baseball and softball as usualon Diamond Three at Dorrance Park this summer, but after that, the ball field is doomed.County crews have put the diamond back in shape after heavy trucks marred the playingfield earlier this spring. Illinois Department of Transportation crews drove onto it to makeborings for the relocation of the junction of Illinois 84 and the Port Byron-Hillsdale road.