Nancy Abelmann, 56, died Jan. 6 at her Urbana home. Abelmann, a 25-year faculty member, was the Harry E. Preble Professor of Anthropology, Asian American Studies and East Asian Languages and Cultures at the U. of I. She co-founded the Ethnography of the University Initiative in 2002; served as the director of the Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies from 2005 to 2008; and, since 2009, was the associate vice chancellor for research in humanities, arts and related fields. A celebration of her life will be held later in the spring. Memorials: Nancy Abelmann Scholarship Fund, U. of I. Foundation, 1305 W. Green St., Urbana, IL 61801.
James E. Barden Sr., 90, died Jan. 6 at the Champaign-Urbana Regional Rehab Center, Savoy. Barden worked for the U. of I. Police Department from 1963-87. Memorials: Wounded Warrior Project or Alzheimer’s Association.
Dr. Sol Barnett, 83, died Jan. 2 at Deaconess Hospital, Spokane, Washington. Barnett was a clinical associate professor for the department of internal medicine in the College of Medicine from 1971-2001. Memorials: U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington, D.C.
Diana Jane Fillenwarth Ganley, 65, died Jan. 10 at her home in Ivesdale, Illinois. Ganley worked at the U. of I. for 32 years, retiring in 2006 as a payroll clerk for Facilities and Services. Memorials: Champaign County Humane Society or the Ivesdale Fire Department EMTs, 406 Third St., Ivesdale, IL 61851.
Lois J. Seibold, 84, died Dec. 29 at the Champaign-Urbana Regional Rehab Center, Savoy. She worked at the U. of I. for 35 years, retiring in 1995 as a secretary IV for the School of Chemical Sciences.
Dominic O. Skaperdas, 92, died Jan. 9 at his Champaign home. Skaperdas worked at the U. of I. for 31 years, retiring in 1986. He served as an associate director at the Computer-Based Education Research Engineer Lab and as a senior research engineer at the Coordinated Science Laboratory. Memorials: Three Hierarchs Greek Orthodox Church, Champaign.
Memorial services
A memorial service for Verlin B. “Andy” Anderson will begin at 1 p.m. Jan. 14 at Morgan Memorial Home, 1304 Regency Drive West, Savoy. Burial will be in East Lawn Cemetery, Urbana. Anderson, 86, died Jan. 11 at his home in Cincinnati. He retired from the U. of I., where he was an inventory specialist for the department of physics and the Materials Research Laboratory. Memorials: Champaign County Humane Society.
Funeral services for Martha Rae Swartz Barbee will begin at 10 a.m. Jan. 16 at First Christian Church, 3601 S. Staley Road, Champaign. The family will receive friends from 9 to 10 a.m. prior to the service. A short lunch will follow at the church, followed by graveside services at Mackville Cemetery, Atwood, Illinois. Barbee, 80, worked more than 30 years at McKinley Health Center, starting as a file clerk and retiring as a medical records administrator. Memorials: Salt and Light Ministry, Restoration Urban Ministries or First Christian Church.
A visitation for Alfred “Bud” Cler will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Jan. 14, with a rosary recited at 4: 30 p.m., at Morgan Memorial Home, 1304 Regency Drive West, Savoy. Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Jan. 15 at Holy Cross Church, Champaign. Burial will be at Grandview Memorial Gardens, Champaign, followed by a luncheon at Holy Cross Parish Center. Cler, 91, died Jan. 11 at Willowbrook Memory Care, Savoy. He was a construction laborer for 27 years for the Division of Operation and Maintenance (now Facilities and Services), retiring in 1993. Memorials: Holy Cross Catholic Church Development Fund, 405 W. Clark St., Champaign, IL 61820, or the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Illinois Chapter, 8430 W. Bryn Mawr, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60631.
