Obituary of George Hope Stybr, Jr.
George H. Stybr, Jr.
After a hard-fought battle with cancer and Parkinson’s, George H. Stybr, Jr., age 84, died at The Timbers of Shorewood on Monday, July 30, with his dear friend, Tina Walker, by his side.
Born in August of 1933 in Morris, Illinois, he lived in Coal City, Joliet and, for the past year, Shorewood. Immediately out of high school, George went to work for Caterpillar Inc. in Joliet, starting in the factory and working his way up through the company. He was Personnel Manager for 30 years and ended his long career with Caterpillar as Training Manager. George loved four-part harmony and was a longtime member of SPEBSQSA (the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America). He travelled the United States and Canada singing lead with the Allied Four comedy quartet. George also served as director of the Blackhawk Chorus in Joliet and the church choir at New Hope Presbyterian in Coal City. He was an avid golfer, a motorcycle enthusiast and was always armed with an arsenal of jokes and stories.
George was preceded in death by his parents, George H. Stybr, Sr. and Gertrude (Purcell) of Coal City; his identical twin brother, Purcell Stybr of Laguna Hills, California; and daughter, Lisa Stybr, of Coal City.
Survivors include his children Lynne (Ralph) Vanderhyden of Cainsville, Missouri; Dave (Denise) Stybr of Essex, Illinois; Tom (Kathy) Stybr of Wichita, Kansas; and Beth (Mark) Dosier of Long Grove, Illinois. George is also survived by the mother of his children, Joan Stybr, of Coal City; sister-in-law, Gigi Stybr, of Laguna Hills; five grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and his best friend, Steve Smith, of Diamond.
In the absence of a service, we are asking friends of George to raise a glass to toast his memory, make someone laugh, sing your favorite song (and ring a chord!) and give the people you love a tight hug today...because tomorrow isn’t promised.
Memorial donations requested to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (www.jdrf.org) or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (www.michaeljfox.org).
Fred C. Dames Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. For more information, please call (815) 741-5500 or visit his Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com
