Blanche Gill (nee Schramm), age 97, of Manhattan passed away peacefully Wednesday, January 1, 2014 with family at her side at her home. She is survived by her children, Karen Couch Odum of Joliet, Allene (Duncan) Bachmann of New Lenox, and Marilyn (Clyde) Odle of Lockport, her grandchildren, Debbie (James) Adams, Kathy (Jeff) Drnec, Scott (Kim) Couch, Sheri (Frank) Sievert, Kimberly (Matthew) LeBeau, Michael (Mary Lou) Odle, Dede (Rob) Curtis, thirteen great grandchildren, and two great great grandchildren, her sister, Dorothy Werner, and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her husband Milton "Jim" Gill (1993), her parents, William and Emeline (nee Baker) Schramm. Blanche was born in Green Garden Township and lived in Manhattan most of her life. She was a life time member of Manhattan United Methodist Church and of The United Methodist Women. Jim and Blanche retired from farming in 1984 and she was an expert at crocheting, quilting, and sewing. Funeral service for Blanche will be 10:00 a.m., Monday, January 6, 2014 at Manhattan United Methodist Church, 335 East North Street, Manhattan, IL, where she will lie-in-state from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. Visitation will be Sunday, from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Forsythe Funeral Home. Interment Manhattan Center Cemetery. Memorials to Manhattan United Methodist Church or Joliet Area Community Hospice would be most appreciated. Forsythe Funeral Home 507 S. State St. (Rt 52) Manhattan, IL 60442 (815) 478-3321 www.forsythefuneralhome.com