Fairice Jean Unzicker

Notes:

Obit: News Gazette-Champaign

FISHER — Fairice Deffenbaugh, 93, of Champaign, formerly of Fisher, died at 2:51 p.m. Monday (Feb. 24, 2020) at Bickford Cottage of Champaign.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Mahomet Christian Church, 908 N. Lake of the Woods Road, Mahomet. Pastor David Johnson will officiate. Burial will be in Willowbrook Cemetery, Fisher. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today (Thursday) at the church. Lamb Funeral Home, 303 N. Church St., Gibson City, is in charge of arrangements.

FISHER — Fairice Jean Unzicker Deffenbaugh, age 93, of Fisher died at 2:51 p.m. Monday (Feb. 24, 2020) at Bickford Cottage of Champaign.

A celebration of life will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 28, 2020, at the Mahomet Christian Church, 908 N. Lake of the Woods Road in Mahomet. Pastor David Johnson will officiate. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, at the church. Burial will be in Willowbrook Cemetery in Fisher.

Mrs. Deffenbaugh was born Feb. 6, 1927, in Fisher, the daughter of Ezra and Bessie (Bachman) Unzicker. She married Eugene Deffenbaugh on Sept. 20, 1945, in Fisher. He passed away Nov. 9, 2008.

Surviving are three daughters, Cheryl ( Mike) Cornwell of Fisher, Brenda ( Kevin) Marlin of Springfield and Janet Hill of Summerville, S.C.; seven grandchildren, Deanna (Tim) Atteberry, Michele (Alex) Embry, Kimberly (Jeff) Alexander, Avery Hill, Kristen (Adam) Wampler, Beth (Dale) Steckel and Adam (Jackie) Hill; and 13 great-grandchildren, Jacob, Katie and Caleb Atteberry, Kalyn and Audrey Embry, Alex and Kendall Wampler, Ethan and Natalie Alexander, Morgan and Molly Steckler and A.J. and Ashlynn Hill.

She is preceded in death by her son, brother and son-in-law.

Fairice was a lifelong homemaker, having lived on the farm nearly her entire life. She was a member of the Mahomet Christian Church and the Dewey Homemakers Extension and served in several capacities with the Fisher Community Fair.

She loved flowers and exhibited them at both Fisher and Farmer City fairs. She was a talented artist with a brush, needle and thread, knitting needles, arranging flowers and decorating cakes. She also served as a local 4-H leader.

Most importantly, she was a servant of the Lord, teaching children in Sunday school, playing piano and organ, singing in the choir and supporting missionaries throughout the world. She sewed clothing and toys for those in need, cooked at church camp, volunteered at nursing homes and attended service whenever the church opened the doors.

The family suggests donating to Restoration House Ministries of Manchestor, N.H. Please share memories on Fairice’s tribute wall at www.lambyoungfh.com.

Buried:
Willowbrook Cemetery

Fairice married Alva Eugene Deffenbaugh on 2 Sep 1945 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. Alva was born on 19 Dec 1924 in Dewey, Champaign Co., IL; died on 9 Nov 2008 in Champaign, Champaign Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Cheryl Ann Deffenbaugh
2. Rodney Eugene Deffenbaugh
3. Brenda Kay Deffenbaugh
4. Janet Lynn Deffenbaugh

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 26 Dec 1909, Champaign Co., IL

Notes:

Baptism:
East Bend Mennonite Church by Peter Zehr

Buried:
Willow Brook Cemetery

Ezra married Bessie Emma Bachman on 27 Dec 1916 in Lowpoint, Woodford Co., IL. Bessie was born on 20 Sep 1893 in Lowpoint, Woodford Co., IL; died on 21 Apr 1978 in Champaign, Champaign Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
Cole Hospital

Buried:
Willow Brook Cemetery

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish Mennonite

Notes:

Obit:
Unzicker, Julius, son of Peter and Katharina (Kenell) Unzicker, was born July 18, 1864, at Morton, Ill.; died March 21, 1961, at Fisher, Ill.; aged 96 y. 8 m. 3 d. On May 3, 1887, he was married to Mary Oesch, who died Dec. 21, 1928. Surviving are 5 sons (Otto, Arthur, Walter, Ezra, and Roy, all of Fisher). He was a member of the East Bend Church, where funeral services were held March 23, in charge of J. A. Heiser and J. Alton Horst.

Birth:
Gravestone gives year as 1865

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Julius married Maria Oesch on 3 May 1887 in Tazewell Co., IL. Maria (daughter of Christian Oesch and Maria (Mary) Abresol (Abersoll) (Ebersol)) was born on 16 Jul 1869 in Tremont, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 21 Dec 1928 in Foosland, Champaign Co., IL; was buried on 24 Dec 1928 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Mennonite
• USR1: Tuberculosis

Notes:

Obit:
Unzicker. - Maria (Oesch) Unzicker, wife of Julius Unzicker and daughter of Christian and Mary Oesch, was born July 16, 1869, near Tremont, Ill.; died Dec. 1928, at her home near Foosland, Ill.; aged 59 y. 5 m. 5 d. On May 21, 1887, she was united in marriage to Julius Unzicker of near Pekin, Ill. This union was blessed with 5 sons, all living at and near her home. At the age of 17 years she accepted Christ as her personal Savior and united with the East Washington Mennonite Church, and during her last sickness again renewed her covenant with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and united with the East Bend Mennonite Church near Fisher, Ill. She gave every evidence, and her own testimony that she was at peace with God and her fellowman, ready to depart to be with her Christ. She leaves a sorrowing husband, 5 sons, 9 grandchildren, 2 sisters besides many relatives and friends. Six brothers and 4 sisters have preceded her in death. Funeral services were held at the East Bend Church Dec. 24, with Bros. Joseph Heiser of Fisher, Ill., and Allen H. Miller of Pekin, Ill. in charge.

Died:
At her home

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Notes:

Married:
By Peter Stuckey

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Oct 1847, Butler Co., OH
• Residence: 1849, Morton Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Naturalization: 1856, Pekin, Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 1860, Morton Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 1870, Morton Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 1880, Morton Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Apparently joined the Hessian congregation in Butler Co., OH.

Birth:
Offentaler estate

Census:
farmer Peter Unsenker, 44, Germany; Catharine, 28, Germany; August, 10, Illinois; Magdelin, 9, Illinois; Anna Eliza, 5; and laborer Louis Greene, 25, Germany. The 1864 plat map shows 'P. Unzicker' living in woodland just above the Roberts, Roth, and Staker farms in the northwesst corner of Morton.

Census:
farmer Peter Unsicker, 56; Catharine, 45; Augusta [August], 26; Magdalena, 19; Amelia [Emilie], 16; Magdalena Kennel, 79; farm laborer Benedict Hauger, 38; and Julia [Julius] Unsicker, 26 [6].

Census:
farmer Peter Unsicker, 64; Catherine, 54; and farmer Julius, 36, born in Illinois to a father from Wiesbaden and a mother from Bavaria.

Buried:
Hirstein Cemetery

Peter married Katharina Kennel on 30 Dec 1848 in Butler Co., OH. Katharina (daughter of Johannes Kennel and Magdalena Katharina Naffziger) was born on 1 Oct 1822 in Dreisen, Palatinate, GR; died on 11 Jan 1898 in Morton, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Morton, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Immigration: 1830

Notes:

Birth:
Kirchheimbolanden

Immigration:
With her family on ship De Rham

Buried:
Hirstein Cemetery

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer
• Immigration: 6 Oct 1848, New York, New York
• Census: 1870, Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Obit: Gospel Herald, November 1908:
"Christian Oesch was born in Germany, Dec. 19, 1818; died Oct. 12, 1908; aged 89 y. 9 m. 24 d. He was married twice, first to Magdalena Zehr; to this union were born 3 children; then to Mary Ebersole; to this union were born 10 children. He leaves to mourn his departure, three daughters [Magdalena, Maria, and Leah], 1 brother, 36 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. Funeral services were conducted by Andrew Schrock; text, I Cor. 15: 21,22, and Samuel Gerber, text, Phil. 1:21."

Census:
The family appears on the 1870 census of Elm Grove as farmer Christian Oesch, 43, Bavaria; Mary, 30, France; Madelaine, 18; Christian, 16; John, 14; Catharine, 11; Joseph, 7; Barbara, 3; and Mary, 1 (all children born in Illinois). Presumably the older children Madelaine, Christian, and John were born to Christian's first wife Magdalena Zehr.

Buried:
Pleasant Grove Mennonite Cemetery

Christian married Maria (Mary) Abresol (Abersoll) (Ebersol) on 8 May 1860 in Woodford Co., IL. Maria was born on 17 Nov 1839 in Nancy, Meurthe-et-Moselle, FR; died on 29 Apr 1884 in IL; was buried in Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
Railroad Cemetery “Maria, wife of Christian”