The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 5

The Pantagraph LOCAL Monday, March AP Nicholas, left, and Frank Wall posed at their home in Sheldon, N.D., with the shirt Frank was wearing when Nicholas accidentally shot him earlier this month with a 12-gauge shotgun. Their parents say they never thought the boys would play with guns. Brothers share terrifying lesson SHELDON, N.D. (AP) Even with 21 shotgun pellets still under his skin and a hole the size of a silver dollar in his back, young Frank Wall's energy is enough to make his mother roll her eyes and sigh. "Now you sit still and answer his questions," Bea Wall says, pointing her 10-year-old son toward a reporter at the kitchen table.

"Consider it part of your punishment." She snags Frank's 8-year-old brother, Nicholas, by the shirt as he tries to sneak through the kitchen. "You too," she demands. Nicholas sulks but climbs onto a stool at the counter. Two weeks earlier, Alvin and Bea Wall's two youngest were involved in something these strict but loving parents never imagined would happen. While Mom helped pull a neighbor's tractor from the mud and Dad was at a livestock auction, Frank and Nicholas took a hunting rifle and shotgun from their father's gun case.

And as they later admitted they had done at least once previously, Frank practiced loading bullets into the hunting rifle while his little brother rested the 12-gauge shotgun on a chair. But this time, the unthinkable happened. Unaware the shotgun had a shell in it, Nicholas pulled the trigger. The blast struck his older brother in the left shoulder, tearing a 4-inch-wide, 8-inch-long canyon halfway across his back and splattering flesh and blood around the kitchen. Today, the skinny boy with dark, matted hair is mostly recovered; enough at least to chase his brother through the house again.

Thankful their two boys are alive, Alvin and Bea Wall are also stunned by the kids' actions, and they are bent on making the incident an example to others. The lesson for kids: This is what can happen when you play with guns. For parents: We trusted our kids as much as you think you can trust yours. "We never, never imagined they touched the guns when we weren't around," says Alvin Wall, a farmer near the tiny town of Sheldon, about 50 miles southwest of Fargo. "And then to find out this wasn't the first time.

It was a shock." As punishment, the Walls have decided young Frank must share the story with other youngsters. Schools, clubs, hunter safety classes. Wherever. He must admit to his actions and show the consequences, including his scar and the bloodsoaked denim shirt. The idea of telling the story doesn't sit well with young Frank.

It's all so embarrassing, he says. His dad steps in with stern words. "You're going to have to do it every year until you're 21, so you might as well start practicing," he says. Frank lowers his head, recognizing the seriousness in his dad's voice. "There has to be some good to come out of this, Frank," he adds.

It started two weeks earlier on a Thursday afternoon when the youngest of the Walls' eight children were on spring break from school. Alvin Wall was at a livestock auction. Bea Wall had just received a phone call from a neighbor, asking for help freeing his tractor from the mud. Frank says his mom was barely out the door when he turned to his little brother and motioned to the gun cabinet. The Walls kept ammunition for their guns locked away separately, but Frank and Nicholas had found a shotgun shell and two rifle bullets elsewhere.

As Frank tried to load the rifle, one bullet got jammed in the chamber and the second fell to the floor. He bent over to pick it up just as Nicholas pulled the trigger on the shotgun. A large scar, along with 21 small pellets still under the skin on Frank's back will be reminders of what the boys recognize as the stupidest thing they ever did. "Curiosity," Frank says, struggling with the big word, "killed the cat, and it almost killed Frank and Nicholas." -You Are Invited To Attend Our FREE WORKSHOP Thursday, April 1 One Day Only! 10 A.M. Long Term Care 3 P.M.

Estate Planning 7 P.M. Estate Planning Jumer's Chateau, 1601 Jumer Bloomington Presented by Marc Minor Mark Fellner R.S.V.P. 1-800-665-7920 Kible Memorial Home 1104 N. Main Street John W. Kibler Funeral Director LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED 29, 1999 A5 OBITUARIES Central Illinois Karen Burden MACKINAW Karen Burden, 52, of Kankakee, formerly of Mackinaw, died at 10:14 a.m.

Sunday (March 28, 1999) at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, Bloomington. Otto-Argo Funeral Home, Danvers, is in charge of arrangements. R.C. Goff GIBSON CITY Goff, 80, of Gibson City died at noon Sunday (March 28, 1999) at the Veteran's Affairs Medical Center in Danville.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Lamb Funeral Home, Gibson City. Victor Mertes BLACKSTONE Victor Mertes, 83, of Blackstone died at 5:30 a.m. Sunday (March 28, 1999) at, his daughter's residence in Naperville. funeral will be at noon Wednesday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Dwight, Father Arthur Ryan officiating.

Burial will ho. in St. Mary's Cemetery, Loretto. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, with a wake service at 7 p.m., and from 11 to 11:45 a.m.

Wednesday at VonQualenHarris Funeral Home, Dwight. Memorials may be made to the Hospice of DuPage, 690 E. North Carol Stream, IL 60188. Mr. Mertes was born on Nov.

10, 1915, at Odell, a son of William and Elizabeth Eich Mertes. He married Ethel Rukuslo on March 30, 1940, at Chicago. She survives. Also surviving are one son, Glenn (Sara) Mertes, Charlotte, N.C.; one daughter, Roberta "Bobbie" (John) Robbins, Naperville; two sisters, Betty Estes, Pontiac; and Marie Mertes, Ransom; two brothers, Donald Mertes, Sterling; and Wilfred Mertes, Ransom; one daughter-in-law, Marlene Mertes, Emington; 17 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Ervin Mertes; two brothers, Kenneth Mertes; and Ervin Mertes; and one sister, Florence Myers.

Mr. Mertes attended Odell schools and graduated from Tilden High School in Chicago. He was a veteran, having served in the Army. Early in his career he was a meat cutter in Chicago. In 1961 he moved to Blackstone where he ran the Katydid Restaurant.

In 1966 he moved across the road and owned and operated Vic and Ethel's Restaurant until it closed 18 years ago. Florence Mulligan DWIGHT Florence Rita Mulligan, 82, of 211 W. North Dwight, died at 5:15 a.m. Sunday (March 28, 1999) at St. Mary's Hospital, Kankakee.

Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Dwight, Father James Rickey officiating. Burial will be in St. Paul Cemetery, Odell.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, with a wake service at 7:30 p.m., and from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Wednesday at VonQualen-Harris Funeral Home, Dwight. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or to the American Heart Association. Mrs.

Mulligan was born July 31, 1916, at Blackstone, a daughter of Thomas and Ella Corrigan Bernard. She married Ray Mulligan on Nov. 17, 1942. He died July 26, 1984. She is survived by one son, Richard (Rosemary) Mulligan, Crest Hill; three daughters, Mary (Thomas) Haigh, Wheaton; Kathy (John) Shreffler, Manteno; and Linda (Steve) Lovell, Dwight; one sister, Bernadine Whalen, Streator; one sister-in-law, Lois Corrigan, Kankakee; 14 grandchildren; and 10 great -grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Francis Corrigan; two sisters, Veronica Corrigan; and Sister Mary Teresetta R.S.M. Mrs. Mulligan was educated at St. Paul School in Odell. She was a homemaker and a beautician, and enjoyed baking, sewing, shopping and spending time with her family.

FUNERAL SERVICES TODAY March 29, 1999 Flessner, Matilda, 11 a.m. at Harris Funeral Home, Cullom. will be in West Lawn Cemetery, Cullom. Johnson, Mary, 2 p.m. at Kibler-Smith Memorial Home, Bloomington.

Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, Bloomington. Morgan, Sharon, 1 p.m. at Metzler-Froelich Memorial Home, Bloomington. Burial will be in Park Hill Cemetery, Bloomington. Pfleeger, Marilyn, 11 a.m.

at Froelich Memorial Home, El Paso. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, El Paso. Smith, Francis, 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, Pontiac. Burial will be South Side Cemetery, Pontiac.

HarrisMartin-Burke Funeral Home, Pontiac, has charge of arrangements. Theesfeld, Phyllis, 2 p.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church, Buckley. Burial will be in St.

John's Cemetery, Buckley. Ford-Baier Funeral Home has charge of arrangements. Paid Notices Lyman Rogers ATLANTA Lyman L. Rogers, 84, of Atlanta died at 6:35 p.m. Sunday (March 28, 1999) at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital, Lincoln.

Funeral arrangements are pending at Quiram Funeral Home, Atlanta. Nettie Schlipf FAIRBURY Nettie Ruth Schlipf, 90, died at 1:45 p.m. (March 28, 1999) at Fairview Haven Nursing Home, Fairbury. Arrangements are pending at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury. Mary Smith CHENOA Mary Smith, 71, of rural Chenoa died at 5:35 p.m.

Sunday (March 28, 1999) at her daughter's home in Gridley. Arrangements are pending at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Chenoa. Elaine Asbie Elaine E. Asbie, 83, of 202 W. Locust Bloomington, died at 3:30 a.m.

Sunday (March 28, 1999) at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, Bloomington. Arrangements are pending at Kibler-Smith Memorial Home, Bloomington. Betty Cook Betty Jean Cook, 75, of Tiskilwa, mother of a Normal woman, died Sunday afternoon at Perry Memorial I Hospital, Princeton. Her funeral at 11 a.m.

Wednesday at Norberg Memorial Home, Princeton, the Rev. Jerome Diers officiating. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery, Princeton. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the First Lutheran Church, Princeton; Tiskilwa Ambulance; or charity of the donor's choice. Among the survivors is Pamela (David) Cain, Normal. Nicholas Ernest Nicholas J. Ernest, 78, of 203 Centennial Drive, Normal, died at 9:08 a.m. Sunday (March 28, 1999) at OSF St.

Joseph Medical Center, Bloomington. Arrangements are pending at Stubblefield-Froelich Memorial Home, Normal. Leroy Menken Leroy W. Menken, 92, of 1017 S. Mercer Bloomington, died at 10:25 p.m.

Saturday (March 27, 1999) at BroMenn Regional Medical Center, Normal. His funeral will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at East Lawn Funeral Home, Bloomington, the Rev. Rob Roy officiating. Burial will be in East Lawn Memorial Gardens, Bloomington.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service Tuesday at the funeral home. PARK HILL CEMETERY and EAST LAWN MEMORIAL GARDENS are now offering a complimentary burial space for THE PRICE OF ENDOWMENT CARE! ELIMINATE ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT DECISIONS YOU WILL HAVE TO MAKE AT A VERY DIFFICULT LIMITED TIME OFFER! Complimentary Spaces Starting at $129.78 (amount of endowment care) What's the catch? There isn't any! Purchase one or more pre-need adult interment rights at the regular price in any developed garden section and get the adjacent space for the price of endowment care! Certificate of Ownership issued in your name. Park Hill Cemetery EAST LAWN MEMORIAL GARDENS 828-8424 South Morris Avenue. 662-1222 Bloomington. 1002 Airport Rd.

Bloomington. 11 Bloomington. 1002 Airport Rd. Bloomington. 11 Memorials may be made to Park United Methodist Church.

Mr. Menken was born May 5, 1906, in Logan County, a son of Frank and Carrie Rademaker Menken. He married Lucille Manahan on Aug. 31, 1928, in Peoria. She survives.

Also surviving are one daughter, Nancy Pearson-Harris, Rockford; Leroy Leroy Menken Men ken, Bloomington; one sister, Florella Britt, Bloomington; 12 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter. He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Charles Menken; one brother; and one sister. For 63 years he was a painter and wallpaper hanger. He retired at age 65. He was an Army veteran of World War II.

He was a member of the Eagles Lodge No. 527 for more than 50 years. He also was a member of the VFW No. 454 and the Painter Local No. 209.

Douglas Sedivy Douglas J. Sedivy, 46, of 2102 Todd Drive, Bloomington, died at 6:35 p.m. Saturday (March 27, 1999) at his residence. Arrangements are pending at Metzler-Froelich Memorial Home, Lisa Tosh Lisa R. Tosh, 42, of 742 Cherokee Drive, Bourbonnais, formerly of Bloomington, died at 7:45 p.m.

Saturday (March 27, 1999) at St. Mary's Hospital, Kankakee. Her funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Beck Memorial Home, Bloomington. The Rev.

David Ap- plegate will officiate. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, Bloomington. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the memorial home. Memorials may be made to the McLean County Hu- Tosh mane Society.

Mrs. Tosh was born July 25, 1956, at Bloomington, a daughter of Sidney and Louise Jordan Miller. She married Harold R. Tosh on Oct. 19, 1974 at Bloomington.

He survives. Also surviving are her father and her stepmother, Jean Miller, both of Bloomington; two sons, Eric Tosh, Bourbonnais; and Harold R. Tosh Bourbonnais; four stepsisters, Lee Phoenix, Judy Brooks and Debbie Roech, all of Bloomington; and Raelene King, Milwaukee, four stepbrothers, John Roy, Ronald Roy and Grant Stevenson, all of Bloomington; and Brad Stevenson, Normal; and three grandsons. She was preceded in death by her mother. Mrs.

Tosh was a scheduler supervisor at the Gilster-Mary Lee Packaging Co. in Momence for 11 years. She was a former employee of the Eureka Company. She was a member of the First Assemblies of God Church in Bourbonnais. Lisa was a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, niece and cousin and will be missed greatly.

Roger Vandergraft The graveside service for Roger L. Vandergraft, 45, of 23 Third Greenwood Trailer Park, Bloomington, will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at Park Hill Cemetery, Bloomington. The Rev. Steve Boze will officiate.

The Illinois chapter of VietNow will conduct military rites. Visitation will be from 1 to 1:45 p.m. Tuesday at Beck Memorial Home, Bloomington. He died at 2 a.m. Saturday (March 27, 1999) at his residence.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society. Mr. Vandergraft was born June 3, 1953, at Bloomington, a son of Lowell Herbert and Daphne Allegra Peyton Vandegraft. He married Catt Woodal on Feb. 14, 1999 at Bloomington.

She survives. Also surviving are one stepdaughter, Gwen (Donny) Wilson, Olney; two stepsons, Roger Roger Hay- Vandergraft Maryville; Scott (Tonya) Zuber, Eangleone sister, Carol (Jerry) SeivCharleston; and three brothers, (Alice) Vandegraft, East Ronald (Ava) Vandegraft, and Terry (Leigh) VanMetamora. was preceded in death by his and an infant brother. Vandergraft was an Air veteran of the Vietnam War. worked as a driver for Bill Auto Parts in Bloomington.

Roger (Laura) den, and ham; er, Clifton Peoria; Gary, degraft, He parents Mr. Force He Smith Leah Wichmann The funeral for Leah E. Wichmann, 100, of 901 N. Main Normal, formerly of Fillmore, will be 1 p.m. Tuesday at Trinity Lutheran Church, Bloomington.

Pastor Thomas Wirsing will officiate. Burial will be in Park Hill Cemetery, Bloomington. Visitation will be from noon until the time of the service Tuesday at the church. Metzler-Froelich Memorial Home, Bloomington, is in charge of arrangements. She died: at 9:55 a.m.

Friday (March 26, 1999) at McLean County Nursing Home, Normal. Memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, 801 S. Madison Bloomington, IL 61701. Mrs. Wichmann was born Oct.

12, 1898, in Dundee, a daughter of Louis and Reka Schroeder Steffen. She married Emil Wichmann on July 11, 1917, in Bloomington. He died Jan. 1, 1967. She is survived by a brother-inlaw, Harry Thompson, Fillmore.

Also surviving are two nieces Dorothy (Harvey) Mays, Bloomington; Patricia Jensen, Bloomington; and several great-nieces and greatnephews. She was preceded in death by two brothers and four sisters. Mrs. Wichmann was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Bloomington, and a past president of the Trinity Lutheran Ladies Aid. She had worked as office manager for her husband at Wichmann Coal Company.

Lisa Lisa Bullet lodged in man's head killed him six years later JOLIET (AP) More than six years ago, a bullet struck Eric Johnson in the head, forever changing his life. Now, it has finally killed him, turning a shooting investigation into an unsolved homicide. Johnson's decomposed body was found Feb. 23 in his apartment several days after he suffered a fatal seizure in his bed. Autopsy results last week indicated a bullet fragment embedded in his forehead was to blame, said Will County Coroner Patrick O'Neil.

Johnson's ordeal began Dec. 16, 1992, when he was 27 years old. 1 He was a passenger in a car driven by a friend when a maroon van pulled beside them, according to police. Two men inside the van flashed gang signs and then sped away. A short time later the men returned, and one of them fired two shots into the car.

A bullet pierced Johnson's neck and entered his forehead. Paralyzed on his left side, Johnson spent the next nine months in a coma. After he awoke, his memory was spotty he didn't remember the shooting. He had lost the ability to count and reason, and his senses of taste and smell were gone. You Too May Overcome Problems Associated With Hearing Former Miss America, Heather Whitestone, says: "I believe the true meaning of success is measured by the difference made in other peoples' lives.

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