Terrence J. “Terry” Hoben, 88, of Galesburg, passed away peacefully at his home in Galesburg surrounded by his loving family in the early hours of Sunday, June 2, 2019.
Terry was born January 14, 1931 in Galesburg, the son of Celestine “Pat” and Lillian (Jordan) Hoben. Terry graduated from Corpus Christi High School in Galesburg. On February 2, 1952 Terry married the love of his life, Barbara Irene Stablein, in Galesburg. She survives. Their 67 years of blissful marriage brought eight children: four sons, Philip of Chapel Hill, NC, Matthew (Diane) of Fort Worth, TX, Brian of Mt. Vernon, and Anthony (Pamela) of Rapid City, SD; four daughters, Rene’ (Thomas) Galli of Crystal Lake, Lorraine Balesh of Chicago; Sarah (John) Shelly of Galesburg, and Sharon (Richard) Larson of Prairie Village, KS; nineteen grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Along with his parents, Terry was preceded in death by one sister, Joanne Fritzel.
During the Korean Conflict Terry served in the US Army, stationed in Germany. Terry worked as an engineer at the Galesburg Research Hospital for over 30 years, retiring on December 31, 1985. Terry was a devout Roman Catholic and a proud Notre Dame Football fan. He was proud of his Irish heritage and being 100% Irish. Terry will be forever remembered as a great man, dedicated to his wife and his entire family. They always came first. He loved to listen to music and was a lifelong student of history. He was a self-taught carpenter and built four homes. He was also a great dispenser of “Terryisms” and had a system for everything he did.
Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 5, 2019 at Watson Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory, Galesburg, with the rosary being prayed at 8 p.m. Funeral Mass will be 10 a.m. Thursday, June 6, 2019 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, with Rev. William T. Miller officiating. Burial with military rites will follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Galesburg. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be donated in Terry’s memory to Doctors without Borders or UNICEF. Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.watsonthomas.com.
