Robert J. Rhoades, 81, of DeKalb, formerly of Astoria, died at 10:45 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 12, 2004, at Kishwaukee Community Hospital in DeKalb.
He was born July 16, 1923, in Fulton County, a son of Paul J. and Orpha Benton Rhoades. He married Betty McKinley on June 14, 1942. She survives.
Also surviving are one son, James (and Sharon) Rhoades of DeKalb; two granddaughters; and one sister, Marianne (and Robert) Pittman of Blacksburg, Va.
He was preceded in death by one brother, Benton; and two sisters, Nelda Eikenberry and Catherine Rhoades.
He farmed in the Astoria area until 1947. He then worked for 35 years at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, where he was a coal handler in the heating plant and later was superintendent of utilities.
He was a member of the 4-H and FFA programs and was an assistant scout leader for many years.
He was a member of First United Methodist Church in DeKalb.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Shawgo Memorial Home in Astoria, where visitation will be one hour before. Pastor Gary Schultz will officiate. Burial will be in Astoria Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Leukemia Foundation or Astoria Township Cemetery Association.
Current Obituaries in the Astoria South Fulton Argus