HOBART H. BUCHER

Hobart Bucher

Hobart H. Bucher, 95, of Peoria died Feb. 13, 2016, at his residence.

He was born Sept. 20, 1920, a son of Harvey and Stella McCormick Bucher of Astoria. He married Bonnie on June 21, 1968, in Peoria. She survives.

Also surviving are four children, Jill Brecher and Jason Bucher of Orlando, Fla., Kyle (and Douglas) Martin of North Bend, Ohio, and Julie Lonteen of Peoria; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by one sister, Christine Danner of Astoria; one brother, Bernard of Macomb; and an infant daughter, Nancy.

As a young man growing up in Astoria, he took pride in working as a butcher at the family store and helping his father pick pears and apples at their orchard. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in World War II, building radar stations to guide aircraft into China, Burma and India. He was awarded three Bronze Stars for his service in the CBI offensive. He earned a good conduct medal in July of 1945.

He went on to study journalism at the University of Illinois-Champaign. In Farmington, he was editor and owner of the Farmington Bugle and volunteered as a fireman. His other endeavors include real estate broker and owner of Abbe Lanes Bowling Alley in Abingdon, before settling into a 25-year career as an editor at the Peoria Journal Star.

Cremation rites have been accorded. A service was held Feb. 19 at Mount Hawley Community Church, 6900 N. Mount Hawley Road, Peoria, with Army military honors.

Memorials may be made to Greater Peoria Honor Flight, PO Box 5072, Peoria, IL 61601, online at www.greaterpeoriahonorflight.org or to Mount Hawley Community Church.

Published in the Astoria South Fulton Argus on 3/2/2016