Belvidere, IllinoisMary Norene Ackerman, 94, of Rockford and formerly of Belvidere, IL died peacefully, Tuesday morning, October 12, 2010 at the Heart Hospital of Swedish American. Norene was born July 1, 1916 in Rockford, IL the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George and Mary (Caton) Bontjes. She married Mr. Irving Ackerman on October 20, 1934 in Rockford. Norene was a devoted wife and mother to her husband and children, as well as a loving grandmother to all of her grandchildren. She enjoyed the Boone County Fair where she volunteered her time and won many ribbons for her canned goods of jellies and jams. Norene was a sixty year member of the Boone Co. Home Extension and a member of the African Violet Club. She was devoted to her faith and a longtime member of Third Presbyterian Church of Rockford.She is loved and will be missed by her children, Joyce (Doug) Pearse of Rockford, Donald (Lynn) Ackerman of Viroqua, WI, Wayne Ackerman of Trophy Club, TX, Delores (Delbert) Dobler of Machesney Park, IL, Larry (Pam) Ackerman of Rockford; son in-law Les Rhode of Belvidere; brother and sisters, Kenneth Bontjes, Dorothy Jackson, both of Byron, IL, Mildred Whipkey of Rockford and Nylia Larson of California; thirty-eight grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.Norene is predeceased by her parents, husband, Irving; daughter, Marilyn Rhode; grandsons, Rick and Anthony; three brothers and one sister.

Memorials can be given in care of Third Presbyterian Church in her memory.