Winona Cocking was
born April 12, 1919 in Jacksonville, IL to William Henry Cocking and Winona Epes
Benefiel Cocking. Byron Henry Cocking
was her brother who died in infancy. Her
sister was Marian Cocking Kelsey (Walter D.); their son is William Kelsey.
Both Marian and
Winona graduated in the class of 1940 from MacMurray College, Jacksonville, IL,
where their grandmother had also attended.
Winona “Nonie” was class secretary from 1940 – 2010.
Miss Winona Cocking
taught at Paxton, IL High School; New Trier High School in Winnetka, IL; and
Illinois Commercial College in Champaign-Urbana, IL.
On August 21, 1943,
Winona Cocking married Ortheldo Arthur Peithmann, who grew up on the family
farm south of Hoyleton, IL, the son of Arthur Herman and Alice Louise Hake
Peithmann. Orth’s sister is Lorraine
Peithman Orr (Clyde) and their children are Judy, Randy, Kathy, and
Robert. Orth’s and Lorraine’s little
brother, Robert Earl Peithman, died at age three.
After serving in
the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War II and graduating from the
University of Illinois College of Law, Orth opened the Peithmann Law Office in
Farmer City, IL in 1948. Nonie was his
office assistant and a Certified Public Accountant.
In addition to
working together in the office 1948 – 2006, Orth and Nonie served their church and the Farmer City
community. They were particularly proud
of the Farmer City Fire Protection District which they helped to start and
which they served until 2005.
Orth and Nonie have
three children: Alice Marian Peithman
Kropp (Gregory William), Robert Cocking Peithman, and William Arthur Peithmann.
Orth and Nonie have
seven grandchildren: William Gregory
Kropp (Tonya), Marian Alice Kropp (Jennifer), Robert Warren Louis Kropp, Robert
Curtis Peithman (Penny), Brian Christopher Peithman, Susan Emily Peithman
(Joel), and Devin Brockland Peithmann.
Orth and Nonie have
one great grandson: Miles Gregory Kropp,
and three great-granddaughters: Miranda,
Mikayla, and Melody Bryant.
Ortheldo Arthur
Peithmann died on October 13, 2006. Orth
and Nonie were married for 63 years.
Winona Cocking
Peithmann died on June 7, 2010.
Both Orth and Nonie
donated their bodies for research.
Memorials may be
made to
Class of 1940 Beautification Fund
MacMurray College Office of Institutional
Advancement
447 East College Avenue
Jacksonville, IL 62650
Outreach Ministries
P.O. Box 101
Farmer City, IL 61842
Fire Protection District
C/O Jim Hammer
825 East Richardson
Farmer City, IL 61842
Farmer City United Methodist Church
101 South Williams
Farmer City, IL 61842
Or to the charity of the
donor’s choice.
A memorial service will be held at a
date to be announced.