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George Jacob Lewis, 88, of Quincy, died Sunday, July 14, 2019, at Good Samaritan Home in Quincy.
George was born Aug. 17, 1930, in Rushville, to parents Dana Mendel Lewis and Gladys Elizabeth Hersman Lewis. He was raised working on his family's farm in Hersman. He graduated from Brown County High School in Mount Sterling in 1948.
Gregory Michael Tobin, 58, died Tuesday, July 2, 2019, following a battle with gastric cancer.
Born Sept. 19, 1960 in Jacksonville, he was the son of William "Bill" Tobin of Grape Vine, Texas, and Patricia "Pat" (Henry) Pinkerton of Jacksonville.
He was an attorney and owner of Pratt and Tobin, PC in Bethalto for 34 years.
Attorney James Bock, Jr., of Glen Carbon, is the new director of the Office for Legal Services and Policy Development for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.
Most recently, Bock was a litigation associate with Greensfelder, Hemker and Gale, P.C. in their Belleville office from 2015 to 2019, where he practiced in Madison and St. Clair counties. Prior to that firm, Bock was an assistant public defender with the Madison County Public Defender’s Office from 2013 to 2015.
ISBA Third Vice President Rory T. Weiler attended the Peoria County Bar Association’s 2019 Annual Business Meeting and New Members’ Reception on July 8 at the Janssen Law Center in Peoria. During the meeting, attendees welcomed the 2019-2020 board of directors and the newest members of the bar.
J.(James) Michael O’Byrne died June 30, 2019 in Urbana.
He was born August 26, 1925, at Mercy Hospital in Urbana, the fourth of six children of John Francis O’Byrne and Rachael Copeland O’Byrne. He went to grade school at St Mary’s in Urbana and graduated from Champaign High School in 1943. He enlisted in the United States Navy Air Corps and served two and a half years during World War II. After service, he returned to Champaign and enrolled in the University of Illinois College of Commerce, receiving a degree in 1948. He was a proud member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. In 1949 he received a Doctor of Law Degree from the University of Illinois Law School and he was admitted to the Illinois Bar in January 1950.
Wayne L. Bickes, 87, of Decatur, died Tuesday, July 2, 2019, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Decatur.
Wayne was born June 18, 1932, in Decatur, the son of Brownie B. and Irma (Shutter) Bickes. He married Sandy Brumley on December 2, 1966, in Decatur.
The ISBA Springfield and Chicago offices will be closed for the holiday beginning Thursday, July 4. They will reopen on Monday, July 8. During this time, members can expect the following:
All business and e-newsletter distribution will resume as usual on Monday, July 8.
Evan Drew Coobs died June 24, 2019, in Champaign. He was 55 years old.
Evan was born on November 11, 1963, in Oelwein, Iowa, the son of Edward W. Coobs and Doris A. (Rodenberg) Coobs. He graduated from Central High School, the University of Iowa College of Business, and the University of Iowa College of Law.
Deborah Frank Feinen, attorney and Champaign mayor, was recently named vice president of downstate operations for Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Inc. (ATG).
Feinen brings more than 25 years' experience in the profession to her new role as the top leader for ATG’s downstate operations, including more than a decade as an active ATG member agent. Her law practice in Champaign-Urbana included real estate, estate planning and administration, guardianship, business law, and school law. Feinen said the ATG position offers her new challenges, as well as the opportunity to continue her local relationships with lawyers, real estate agents, and lenders, while meeting new people in other areas of the state. She follows in the footsteps of Jerry Gorman, former senior vice president of ATG’s downstate operations, who retired in early 2019 after 37 years at ATG.
Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, a non-profit organization that provides free legal services to low-income individuals in central and southern Illinois, is seeking a staff attorney at the Northern Regional Office in Springfield.
The position includes representing victims of domestic violence in a variety of matters, including but not limited to orders of protection, civil no stalking orders, and divorces. The position also includes representation of low-income persons in routine and complex housing and consumer litigation and expungement cases, as well as participation in community legal education and outreach.