Obituaries

Benjamin Hooker Watts, 55, died at 5:45 a.m. Tuesday (Sept. 19, 2017) at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana. He was born March 1, 1962, in Urbana, to Emily Stipes Watts and Robert Allan Watts. He married Judith Diane Argentieri on Oct. 25, 1997, in Chicago. They have a daughter, Olivia Argentieri Watts (18), and a son, Samuel Argentieri Watts (16).

Ben is survived by his wife and two children. He is also survived by his mother and brothers, Edward and Thomas, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father.

Ben graduated from Champaign Central High School and Dartmouth College and played football for both CHS and Dartmouth. He later graduated from the University of Michigan School of Law, going on to practice law with Gardner Carton & Douglas, Chicago. He returned to Champaign to join Stipes Publishing where he was a partner in the publishing business.

Mark Kowalczyk, 73, a criminal defense Attorney In Glen Ellyn, IL. died on Friday, September 1, 2017 surrounded by family and friends. Beloved fiancé of Patricia (Pattie) Murray, Step-father of Steven (Eleanor) Horvath and grandfather of Teddy "Rocco"  Horvath. Beloved son of the late Irene and Edmund Kowalczyk. Loving step-son of Rozanne "Posy" K. Robertson. Dear Brother of Madeleine Rapsey, Mary (Howard) Rittgarn, and the late Michael Kowalczyk.

Mark led a full and colorful life. Zealous "justice-seeker" and defender of the accused. Always generous to a fault, he often represented many pro-bono. A big game hunter and admirer of beautiful woods, Mark enjoyed collecting and restoring long guns of all kinds. Mark's many hobbies included rebuilding vintage trucks and woodworking. In his spare time, Mark was a nature lover, avid reader, small town wanderer and world traveler.

Thomas P. Marnell, 60, passed away on Sunday Sept. 3, 2017 after battling kidney cancer. Tom was married to the love of his life, Christy (Sallas). The couple lived in Oak Park and Naperville and raised four amazing children, Colleen (Tom) McManigal (Naperville, IL), Anthony (Brooklyn, NY), Tommy (Los Angeles, CA), and Kara (San Francisco, CA). A man of humility and generosity, and who faithfully lived his values, Tom was devoted to his family and devout in his Catholic faith. By his own quiet example, Tom taught his children the importance of honor, empathy, friendship, and the inherent joy in serving others and his spirit will live on in them.

Tom loved to spend time with family and friends at Big Sand Lake, hike in the Arizona mountains with his sweetheart and wife of 36 years, Christy, and defeat his children at Scrabble. As a grandfather, a role he cherished, Tom never missed an opportunity to make his grandchildren smile and was never more content than with a baby in his arms. He will be deeply missed and never forgotten by the many whose lives he touched. 

Robert William “Bob” Castendyck, 95, of Pompano Beach, died Monday, Aug. 14, 2017, at John Knox Village in Pompano Beach.

He was born March 6, 1922, to Otto F. and Helen (Ward) Castendyck in Sterling. As a young man, Robert graduated with scholastic honors from Sterling High School, and was an Eagle Scout. Bob went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree from Knox College, where he was an active member of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, and a J.D. from Northwestern University Law School, where he was a member of Phi Delta Phi Law Fraternity. Bob’s studies were interrupted briefly during World War II while he served as a navigator on a B-24 Bomber stationed in Okinawa, Japan, receiving the rank of first lieutenant. At Knox College, Robert met his wife of almost 70 years, Margaret Lord. They were married in September 1947 in Davenport, Iowa.