Earl Eldon Hess

Earl Eldon Hess, son of the late James M. and Viola (Moore) Hess, was born on April 23, 1932 in Belvidere, Illinois and went to be with his Lord on June 3, 2008 in the Cox Medical Center South in Springfield, Missouri, following a courageous battle with cancer. He was 76 years, 1 month, and 11 days of age.
Earl grew up and attended school in Belvidere and was united in marriage to Donna Jean Grimes. They were married for thirty-five years. Donna passed away in 1990.
He later married Marlene (Larson) Obermiller on March 6, 1992. Following his retirement from Cam-Car Textron in Belvidere in 1994, they moved to Cabool, Missouri in Texas County. Together they enjoyed farm life and gardening.
Earl’s favorite hobby was restoring antique farm machinery and he especially took great pride in his tractors. He was a member of the Ozark Older Iron Club in Cabool where he enjoyed showing different projects until his health started failing.
At the time of his passing, he was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Cabool. He served as a trustee for many years and helped with several church projects. Earl was a true example of a humble Christian gentleman. He had a quiet manor and great sense of humor that will be truly missed by those who knew and loved him.
He is survived by his loving wife of sixteen years: Marlene Hess of their home; three daughters: Ann Barrich and her husband, Rudy, of Sparta, Tennessee, Jane Hess and her companion, Mary Jo, of Edgewood, New Mexico, and Merri Morrall and her husband, Mark, of Caledonia, Illinois; one step-son: Randy Obermiller and his companion, Jeanelle Correll, of Rockford, Illinois; three step-daughters: Lynnel Camling of Oregon, Illinois, Ellen Wendel and her husband, James, of Rockford, Illinois, and Kari Schelling and her husband, Joe, of Seward, Illinois; three sisters: Sally Heisler and Mildred Blee, both of Belvidere, Illinois and Dorthy Grimes and her husband, Donald, of Phoenix, Arizona; five grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.


Funeral Services:
Friday, June 6, 2008 at 10:00 AM in the First United Methodist Church in Cabool, Missouri.
Visitation:
Friday, June 6, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM before service in the church.
Burial:
Belvidere Cemetery, Belvidere, Illinois
In Lieu of flowers/contributions to:
1st United Methodist Church Fund
2nd Funeral Service:
Saturday, June 7th, 11:00 AM in the Buck-Wheeler-Hyland Funeral Home, Belvidere, Illinois.
Visitation:
Saturday, 10:00 AM in the funeral home before service. Burial following service in the Belvidere Cemetery.