Vera Joan Fornander, 73, of Woodhull, IL, passed away at St. Francis Hospital, Peoria on September 19, 2024. She was born in Galesburg and lived in Abingdon. Her parents were Cleve and Josephine Gillenwater. She is survived by Bob, her husband and three brothers, James, John, and Tony. She attended the University of Iowa earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. She taught 1st and 3rd grade her entire career in the Galesburg school system.
Vera was an active actor/singer in local theaters with many, many performances in her repertoire. She performed with Choral Dynamics in Galesburg and she particularly loved dancing and doing comedy routines with the ensemble. Vera attended First Lutheran Church and was a member of the choir as well as singing in several community organizations.
V leaves behind two step-children, Allison and her daughter, Brooklyn in Galesburg and Thomas and his wife, Kim in Algonquin, IL.
Vera was deeply committed to her numerous pets through the years. She also kept food on the porch at night for “visitors” of all sorts which she would get to know through the videos she would take on her many trail cams. People enjoyed her posts of visitors like Madeline the petite skunk and One-eyed Willie the nearly blind possum.
Vera’s talents, humor and joyous attitude will be missed by many in the community.
A visitation will be at First Lutheran Church, Galesburg on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at 5 p.m. with a service in the sanctuary at 7:00. Memorials may be made to First Lutheran Church and Prairie Players Civic Theater. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.
