Eleanor Robeen
Hardin |
Eleanor Margaret Robeen, 98, of Hardin, IL, passed peacefully to her heavenly home on Saturday, February 20, at 1:30 p.m. Eleanor was blessed to be in her home in Hardin surrounded by her loving family.
The daughter of Roman and Mary (McGuire) Gress, Eleanor was born on March 10, 1922, in Hamburg, Illinois.
She grew up on the family farm working with her parents and brothers with the apple orchard, crops, and livestock. She attended Michael School and St. Michael’s Church. It was in the classroom at Michael School where Eleanor first noticed Curtis Robeen, describing him as “too smart for his britches.” But an attraction began, and she would years later leave her clerking job at Meyer’s Mercantile in Hamburg to marry Curtis on November 30, 1940, at St. Michael’s Church in Michael. Curt and Eleanor celebrated 75 amazing years together, including a separation with two young children when Curt entered the Navy to serve in World War II.
Their early years together were spent in Hamburg but they later relocated to Hardin where Eleanor became an active and talented 4-H leader. She scripted many blue-ribbon skits that were award winners at the Illinois State Fair. An excellent cook, Eleanor worked in that capacity for Calhoun Unit #40.
She loved cooking for her large family, hosting Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas celebrations even after Curt’s passing in 2016. Family vacations were important and sharing them with children, grandchildren, and friends, made for great memories.
Eleanor loved to dance and loved the fiddle. Her grandfather, Philip McGuire, could “make the fiddle talk,” and she shared many stories about dances in Calhoun County. She loved Willie Nelson’s “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,” loved vegetable and flower gardening, bird watching, her cat Mia, and a special little yorkie named Scooter. She loved her audible books, especially those set in the Old West.
Eleanor was committed to her friends, family, and her faith. She loved her rosaries, especially her Rosary of the Seven Sorrows. She participated in and supported Koininia, and offered many prayers and rosaries for friends, and family. Eleanor was loved and cherished by all who knew her, and in 18 days would have shared her next birthday cake “99 and she’s got her mind.”
Eleanor and Curt were blessed with children: Curtis Jr. (Carol) Robeen of Hardin, Patricia Gotway of Kampsville, Robbie (Terry) Strauch of Hamburg, Kathy (Bob) Ellis of Hardin, and Reginia (Fred) Rose of Hardin. In addition they were blessed with 17 grandchildren, Brad (Tammy) Robeen- Alaska, Julie (Butch) Sunderland- Godrey, JoAnn (Terry) Hausman- Kampsville, Mike (Kelly Jablonski) Robeen, Romona (Mike) Scott- Michigan, Rhonda (Kevin) Clyde- Utah, Roma (Steve) Wilken- Godfrey, Trista (Tim) Safranski- Missouir, Tad Strauch, Tera (Rodger) Pohlman, Traci (Justin) Hillen all of Hardin, Shawn (Crissy) Kiel, and Josh (Melissa) Kiel of Hardin, Alicia (Justin) Bolin- Hardin, Ashley (Shane) Rose- Missouri, Abby (Dylan) Kamp of Carrollton, and Annie (Henry) Rose of Hardin, 29 great-grandchildren, Sadie (Andrew) Renken, Brady (Cirra) Robeen, Andy (Ashely) Robeen, Ashley Chevez, Dee Dee Chevez, Amanda Robeen, Rob Hausman, Sarah (Neil) Thorton, and Shannon Hausman, Cole Jablonski, Drew, Jablonksi, Tiffany Bailey, Aimee Gotway Bailey, Logan Wilken, Carson, Casper, Cooper, and Carver Safranski, Carly, Selby, and Grady Pohlman, Abner, Franci, Helen, and Sylvie Hillen, Mallory Kamp, Gage Kamp, Eleanor Kiel, and Henry Kinder, and 5 great-great-grandchildren, Emma Chevez, Aniston Robeen, Olivia Robeen, Leonard Curtis Robeen, and Izzy Ramona Toney.
Eleanor is also survived by three sisters-in-law, Virginia Friedler, Helen Gress, and Ora Louise Gress, a special cousin, Nancy Robeen, and many special nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and husband, Eleanor was preceded in death by two brothers, Arthur (Bud) Gress and Audry V. Gress, a son Douglas and infant son Philip, son-in-law Norbert Gotway, grandsons, Todd Gotway, Mike Robeen, and Roger Pohlman, a great-grandson, Stan Hillen, and great-great-grandson, Michael Robeen.
Private Funeral Mass for the family will be Thursday at 10:00 a.m. at St. Norbert’s Catholic Church in Hardin with public graveside services to follow at St. Norbert’s Cemetery.
Father Don Roberts will officiate. A Celebration of Life will be held on June 13th at 11:30 a.m. beginning at the cemetery.
CDC guidelines and mandates will be followed, and masks are required.
Memorials may be made to St. Norbert’s School or St. Norbert’s Church.
Gress, Kallal and Schaaf Funeral Home
