Robert “Bob” Forrest Hovey, 72, of Albany, IL, died Tuesday, August 22, 2017, at the Good Samaritan Society, Prophetstown, IL.
Bob was born October 24, 1944, in Clinton, IA, the son of Forrest and Loretta (Kennedy) Hovey. He graduated from Erie High School in 1962. On July 18, 1964, he married the love of his life, Jeanne Carpenter, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Fulton, IL. Bob worked at Case IH for 30 years, retiring in 1993. He also farmed on the side. After retirement, he sold real estate and delivered papers for the Dispatch. Bob, “Mr. Fix-it,” was a natural mechanic; he could fix anything.
Bob enjoyed going to fairs and tractor pulls. He had a good sense of humor, was easy going, soft spoken, genuine, and a hard worker. He enjoyed helping others. Bob loved his cat, Chester, and dog, Karma. He especially loved his two grandsons, who always brought out his smile when they visited him.
Surviving are his wife, Jeanne; sons, John Hovey, Berwick, IL, Jim Hovey, Albany, Joe (Sandy) Hovey, Erie, IL; daughter, Jennifer Hovey, Morrison, IL; grandsons, Noah Hovey and Boston Howard; siblings, Gary (Becky) Hovey, Albany, Mary (Rick) Lohman, Eldridge, IA, Gloria (Wilbur) Stubbs, Erie, and Mike (Jane) Hovey, Prophetstown, IL.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Judith, in infancy.
Services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, August 30, 2017, at Gibson-Bode Funeral Home, Erie, IL.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 29, 2017, at Gibson-Bode Funeral Home, Erie, IL.
Burial will be in the Erie Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the family for a fund to be established.