Obituaries: Hjort, Starkey

Gordon HauptGordon Hjort

Gordon J. Hjort of Bloomington, Ill., formerly of Hudson, Ill., passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2017 at 5:55 a.m. at Bickford House, Bloomington.

His service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017 at 2pm at the College Park Christian Church, Normal, Ill., with Pastor Brent Salm officiating. Following the service burial will take place at the Hudson TWP Cemetery, Hudson. Visitation will be held on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017 from 1-2 p.m. at the church.

Memorials may be made to the College Park Christian Church or Alzheimer’s Association.

Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home is in charge of arrangements.

Gordon was born on May 9, 1936 in Laurium, Mich., the son of Edwin Arthur and Charlotte Alma (Norum) Hjort. He married Mary Ann Toivonen on July 26, 1958 in Eagle River, Wisc. She preceded him in death on Feb. 16, 2016.

He is survived by his children; Kevin (Amy) Hjort of Lakewood, Wisc. and Brenda (Mike) Shay of Hudson and his grandchildren; Jessica (Tim) Dehn, Kaitlyn (Jon Propp) Hjort, Nicole Hjort, Natalie and Laura Shay and one great grandchild. He is preceded in death by his parents, wife and one sister Elaine Hansen.

He started work with Cutler-Hammer which later became Eaton Corp and then went to work for Action Tech retiring from there in 1990. He was a member of College Park Christian Church of Normal, Lincoln Elks Club and volunteered for Junior Achievement and Boy Scouts of America. Gordon enjoyed woodworking and traveling with his wife Mary Ann to Wisconsin. Most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family. He will be dearly missed by all of them.

Genevieve StarkeyGenevieve Starkey

Genevieve A. Starkey, 82, of Normal, Ill., passed away on Friday, October 13, 2017 at Advocate BroMenn Regional Medical Center, Normal.

Her service will be held on Friday, Oct 20, 2017 at 10 a.m. at Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington with Pastor Robert Clark officiating. Following the service burial will take place at East Lawn Memorial Gardens, Bloomington. Visitation will be held on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017 from 5-7 p.m. at the funeral home.

The family suggests memorials to be made to the Danvers Baptist Church Building Fund.

Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home is in charge of arrangements.

Genevieve was born on September 5, 1935 in Chicago. She is the daughter of Arnold and Miriam (Michelle) Nygaard. She married Harlan Starkey on October 12, 1953 in Metropolis, Ill.

She is survived by her husband Harlan, her children; Linda (David) Caldwell of Athens, Ill., Gail (Hank) Farrell of Athens, Julie (Randy) Woith of Normal, Michael Starkey of Bloomington and Roger (Kim Purcell) of Fancy Prairie, Ill., 17 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild and her sister; Nancy (Dennis) Barrington of Illinois.

She is preceded in death by her parents, and one brother.

She was a 1953 graduate of Bloomington High School. She worked and retired from Mennonite Hospital Long Term Care and later from Country Companies claims department. Genevieve was a member and very active at the Danvers Baptist Church, volunteered at the Ministry and More Food Pantry and enjoyed crocheting afghans and hats for various charities.

She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother and will be deeply missed by all her family and friends.

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