- Date Of Birth: January 28, 1930
- Date Of Death: February 22, 2016
- State: Illinois
Hobart R. “Hobie” Hinderliter, 86, of Jacksonville, IL passed away peacefully Monday morning, February 22, 2016, at Passavant Hospital in Jacksonville following an extended illness.
He was born January 28, 1930 in Canton, IL, the son of Ross and Mildred Applebee Hinderliter. He married Marian Gardner of Heyworth, IL on June 14, 1953, and they celebrated their 62nd anniversary in June of 2015.
He is survived by his wife, Marian of Jacksonville; three children, Alan Hinderliter (wife, Judy) of Chapel Hill, NC, Janet Hinderliter of New Milford, CT, and Steven Hinderliter (wife, Denise) of Wilmington, NC; three grandsons, Michael Hinderliter and Eric Hinderliter, both of Chapel Hill, NC and Jonathan Hinderliter (wife, Robin) of Greensboro, NC; and a great grandson, Grayson.
Hobie grew up on the family farm at Smithfield, IL and graduated from Cuba High School in 1947. He was active in 4-H and was a FFA State Farmer. He graduated from the University of Illinois with a master’s degree in agriculture education.
During the Korean War, he served as an Information, Education, and Athletic Officer with the US Fifth Army in Chicago. He was later transferred to Europe where he served as Officer in Charge for the Munich Quartermaster Depot Motor Pool. Following his discharge from the US Army, Hobie taught vocational education at Bradford High School for one year prior to relocating to Jacksonville in 1956.
He was a professional farm manager for Rankin Farms for 60 years. He was a member of both the national and state Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers organizations. He also served as the manager of Jacksonville Memorial Lawn Cemetery. In recognition of his service to agriculture, he was inducted into the Jacksonville Area Agri-Industry Hall of Fame.
Hobie was a devoted member of Grace United Methodist Church, having served as chairman of the Pastor-Staff Relations committee and chairman of the Administrative Council. He served 23 years on the board of directors for Elm City Center in Jacksonville including nine years as board chairman. He also served as an associate director for the Morgan County Soil Conservation Board for 37 years.
A dedicated Kiwanian, Hobie was an active member and past president of the Jacksonville Kiwanis Club where he had amassed 59 years of perfect attendance. He also formerly served as Kiwanis Division 11 Lieutenant Governor. In recognition of his devotion to Kiwanis, Hobie was presented with the Dr. Luis Amador Medallion, the Hixson Fellow Award, and the Jacksonville Distinguished Kiwanian Award. He was also recently honored as the first recipient of a new award entitled “The Hobie”, established in his name to recognize the Jacksonville Kiwanian who devoted the most service hours to the club each year.
He was a former committee chairman for Boy Scout Troop 107, Honest Abe District Commissioner and Chairman, and a board member for the Abraham Lincoln Council, Boy Scouts of America. In recognition of his service to scouting, Hobie was presented the Silver Beaver Award.
A consummate community volunteer, Hobie was a member and past master of Jacksonville Lodge #570 AF & AM and held membership in the Valley of Springfield Consistory and Ansar Shrine. He was a former member of the Jacksonville Jaycees and a member of the Cass-Morgan Farm Bureau, American Legion Post #279, Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce, and past president of the Jacksonville Family Campers. He served as vice president of the Sherwood Eddy YMCA during its construction. He was a member of the Passavant Area Hospital Foundation board and was instrumental in developing their “Grains for Health” program.
Hobie and Marian established a freshman scholarship as well as a Professorship in the Illinois State University College of Business. They also endowed a Professorship in Farm Management at the University of Illinois made possible by the donation of Hobie’s family farm in Smithfield, IL.
The Hinderliters enjoyed travel and over the years travelled extensively throughout the United States and abroad. They attended four International Farm Manager and several Kiwanis International meetings. They also participated in College Abroad trips with the University of Illinois Alumni Association and educational trips sponsored by local banks. In addition to his love of travel, Hobie enjoyed golfing, ballroom dancing, square dancing, fishing, hunting, swimming, watching television and reading. Yet his greatest passion remained his love of ice cream.
