Robert Hart Obituary
Robert H. Hart
8/12/1944 – 11/14/23
Robert Henry Hart, 79, of Illiopolis, IL passed away peacefully into the arms of his Savior, Jesus Christ, on Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at Decatur Memorial Hospital in Decatur, IL. He had suffered a stroke in late October and was attempting to recover, but the Lord, in His perfect timing, called him home.
Bob, as he was known to friends and family, was born August 12, 1944 in Decatur, IL at St. Mary’s hospital to William F. Hart and Lois (White) Hart. He grew up in the Decatur area, eventually moving into a home his father built in Oakley, IL, where he graduated from Cerro Gordo High School in 1962. It was there he met the love of his life, Marilyn Eaton, and they married on May 30, 1964.
Bob and Marilyn lived many years in Niantic, IL before buying land in Illiopolis and building their dream home together. They loved raising their family in a small town and enjoyed many years of family gatherings, holiday meals and Christmas celebrations there. A big bon fire and wiener roast on a Saturday night with the kids and grandkids was one of his favorite things to do every fall. A family man through and through, he could not have possibly loved his family more than he did.
Never idle, Bob was an amazing provider and father. He was always the first person to lend a hand when he saw a need. You didn’t need to be part of his family to experience his grace and generosity first hand. Acts of kindness were his love language.
A fifty-three-year member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 146, he enjoyed a long, successful career as an electrician until his retirement in 2006. An outgoing and onery man, Bob loved to socialize. Gathering with friends for coffee almost daily was still a ritual until only recently.
Spending time with Marilyn, his children and grandchildren meant the world to Bob. He will always be remembered for the countless group photos he took at every family meal, whether at home or in a restaurant. This past spring, he was blessed to watch his grand-daughters Lexy and Madison marry, as well as welcome his first great-grand child, Aria, into the family.
Every day at noon, when he wasn’t traveling to visit family or enjoying a quick get-a-way with Marilyn, you could be sure he would be watching Gunsmoke and working a puzzle. He loved westerns and was a huge fan of Matt Dillon, war movies and Elvis.
Surviving Bob are his wife, Marilyn, his sister Pat (Hart) Brackett of Decatur, IL and his brother Herb Hart of Oakley, IL, and his children and grandchildren: His son, Robert H. Hart, Jr and wife Karen (Marrello) Hart of Decatur, IL, their daughter Mallory Stoecker and her husband Gavin, and daughter Aria Stoecker of Broomfield, Colorado, their daughter Madison Hockman and her husband, Alex of Columbia, Missouri; his daughter Rhonda Wiese and her husband Shawn of Illiopolis, their daughter Alexa (Lexy) Volker and her husband, Jake of Chatham, IL, and his grandsons Justus and Jachin Wiese of Illiopolis; as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews and their children. He loved them all!
He was preceded in death by both his parents, and his siblings: His infant sister Beverly Hart, and siblings William Hart, David Hart, Mary Ann (Hart) Etnier, Terry Hart, Mike Hart and Deborah (Hart) Webster.
Visitation will be held Friday, November 17th from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Resurrection Life Church in Decatur, IL.
Services will be held Saturday, November 18th at 1:00 p.m. at Resurrection Life Church in Decatur, IL.
in Decatur, IL with burial to follow at Riverside Cemetery in Illiopolis, IL.
The family requests memorial donations be sent to The Healing Room at Guiding Light Ministries in Decatur, IL. The address is 237 E. Maryland Heights Rd, Decatur, IL 62526.
