ABTS Mortuary

Campbell, 77, of Pekin, passed away Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, at Hallmark House in Pekin.She was born March 18, 1941, in Pekin to Ray Sloter and Louise Bodie. She was later adopted by Louis Pangerl.She married Ronald Campbell. He preceded her in death in May 1985.She was also preceded in death by her parents.She is survived by her brothers, Joseph (Tanya) Sloter and Danny (Janice) Sloter; sister-in-law Lynn Sloter; nieces Stephanie (Bradd) Mennenga, Nicole Sloter, Julie (Trevor) Bierschbach and Jennifer Morrow; nephew Ronald (Emily Ward) Sloter; great-niece Rachael Mennenga; and great-nephews Michael Mennenga, Alex Mennenga, Andrew Mennenga and Gavin Bierschbach.Carma graduated from Pekin Community High School and worked for MGP Grain Products, retiring in 2008. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pekin, where she assisted counting collections, was Eucharistic Minister and sponsor for RCIA candidates. She enjoyed going to the children’s sport activities and working at the church bizarre. She also enjoyed Bunco, playing cards and going to lunch with her friends. She loved her family, and she will be greatly missed.A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 27, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pekin, with visitation one-hour prior at the church. Father Timothy Hepner will officiate. Cremation will be accorded following the mass, and burial will be at Meadow Lawn Cemetery in Manito at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pekin in her name. The family has entrusted Abts Mortuary in Pekin with her arrangements. Online condolences may be made at abtsmortuary.com. ...

Comisky, 67, of Pekin passed away Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018, at his residence.He was born June 28, 1951, in Peoria to Willard James and Margaret Mary Kelly Comisky; his parents and sister, Peggy Comisky preceded him in death.He is survived by his brother, Jim (Anita) Comisky; sisters, Anne Klein, Susan (Michel) Benistant and nieces and nephews, Christina, William, Vincent, Milissa, Jennifer, Raymond, Sarah, Kelly, Fabien and Isabelle.John started in 1971 as a Pekin Police dispatcher and continued his career as a Pekin Police Officer for 28 years and eight years with the Tazewell County Justice Center. He was a member of the Pekin Moose Lodge and Pekin Boat Club. John had a great sense of humor and a real love for life. He was devoted to his family and he will be greatly missed.Per his wishes cremation has been accorded and a Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, Sept. 7, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Pekin Boat Club. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Disabled American Veterans in his name.Abts Mortuary in Pekin is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be made at abtsmortuary.com. ...

For more than a week, investigators were examining the property and records at Katy’s Pet Cemetery, owned by Joseph Abts. Animals were found in freezers, which is legal, both at the pet cemetery and at Abts Funeral Home, said Investigations Capt. Tim Gillespie. The investigation started after someone claimed animals were not being cremated after owners paid for the service.Abts was questioned by investigators, but before the investigation was completed he took his own life, according to Chief Deputy Jeff Lower.The department has closed the investigation since the only suspect is deceased. It is still investigating the death of Abts.Lower stressed that, “Although Joseph Abts also operated Abts Mortuary, we would like to assure the public that this investigation was solely involving the cremation of animal remains, and at no time was any question raised about human cremation or the operation of the mortuary.”After obtaining a search warrant on July 21, officers went inside the crematory.“At Katy’s cemetery, a search of the building where the crematory is located, we found inside three chest freezers with animals in them,” said Gillespie. “There is power to the building and the freezers (inside) were working.“There was approximately 15 animals total in the freezers. We seized six animals that had microchips in them. No other animals were present in the building, outside the building or (in) the dumpster located outside the building. At Abts Mortuary in Pekin, they had one large style chest freezer they place animals in when people drop them off there. The freezer was working properly. Joe would then take them on another date/time to Katy’s Cemetery ... There was approximately 10 more animals in this freezer. We seized three microchipped animals.”Three deceased animals were found and seized in a non-working freezer setting outside, said Lower in the press release.Katy’s Pet Cemetery, located at south of Pekin at the corner of Hurt Road...