Adams County Fair Remembers Richard and Dolores Obert
Richard and Dolores (Hildebrand) Obert were married June 20, 1959 inside the St. Francis Church in Quincy.
The Oberts could always be found at the Adams County Fair every year. Normally you could find them visiting and laughing with fair friends inside the Bunny Barn, which was like their second family. It's said they never missed an Adams County Fair, and it's become a tradition continued on by their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
In his early years Richard attended St. Michael’s School in Quincy. He spent his early life working on the family dairy farm. Richard later served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War. He attained the rank of corporal and was in the 453rd Engineers Division of the army from 1952 to 1954. He loved to share his memories of his time stationed in Pusan, Korea and about the special people of Korea he met. He fondly remembered driving his fellow soldiers to church on Sundays, giving his rosary to a dying man, helping construct an airport, and celebrating his final night there by dancing a jig on a 50-gallon barrel.
After his service he returned to the family dairy farm, worked for Midwest Dairy and Willers Dairy, and began his career with Ellington Township. He succeeded his father as Road Commissioner, a job Richard held until his retirement in 1990. Richard was elected to the Adams County Board for District 5 in 1990 and served 16 years. He served on the Mill Creek Water District Board for 22 years. He loved campaigning and meeting the public. He was a Democratic Precinct Committeeman for many years. Also, he was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Knights of Columbus, American Legion, and Western Catholic Union.
Richard served his country, community and family well through his lifetime.
Dolores and Richard were strong supporters of St. Dominic School through the many, many activities of their children, grandchildren and now great-grandchildren, all of whom attended the school. She was a member of St. Francis Church.
Their greatest joy was being an active part of the lives of their eight children and their families. They believed their children were their "diamonds."
Dolores took every opportunity possible to host or be at a family gathering. She taught her children about the importance of faith and family. She went out of her way to make every holiday special, from the "Penny Candy Store" on the Fourth of July, St. Nicholas and the stockings, to making sure the "Valentine's Man" made his deliveries.
Richard Mathias Obert, 93, of Quincy passed away in his home on Friday, December 11, 2020.
Richard was born November 30, 1927 to Mathias C. and Esther L. (Hufendick) Obert in Quincy, Illinois.
On June 20, 1959 he married Dolores C. Hildebrand
in St. Francis Solanus Catholic Church in Quincy.
She preceded him in death on February 19, 2013.
.
His life commitment was to his wife and family, and this was never more evident than in the last few years that he and Dolores had together. Following her receiving a kidney transplant he never left her side. It was known that if you saw one you were likely to see the other. Watching the two of them glide across the dance floor in their younger days let you know they were a team.
Their marriage was blessed with eight children; James (Karen), Yvonne (Gerald “Booty”) Campbell, Richard, Steven (Penny), Alan (Todd), Mathias (Amy), Leon and Joanne (Jeff) all of Quincy.
The Oberts could always be found at the Adams County Fair every year. Normally you could find them visiting and laughing with fair friends inside the Bunny Barn, which was like their second family. It's said they never missed an Adams County Fair, and it's become a tradition continued on by their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
In his early years Richard attended St. Michael’s School in Quincy. He spent his early life working on the family dairy farm. Richard later served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War. He attained the rank of corporal and was in the 453rd Engineers Division of the army from 1952 to 1954. He loved to share his memories of his time stationed in Pusan, Korea and about the special people of Korea he met. He fondly remembered driving his fellow soldiers to church on Sundays, giving his rosary to a dying man, helping construct an airport, and celebrating his final night there by dancing a jig on a 50-gallon barrel.
After his service he returned to the family dairy farm, worked for Midwest Dairy and Willers Dairy, and began his career with Ellington Township. He succeeded his father as Road Commissioner, a job Richard held until his retirement in 1990. Richard was elected to the Adams County Board for District 5 in 1990 and served 16 years. He served on the Mill Creek Water District Board for 22 years. He loved campaigning and meeting the public. He was a Democratic Precinct Committeeman for many years. Also, he was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Knights of Columbus, American Legion, and Western Catholic Union.
Richard served his country, community and family well through his lifetime.
Dolores and Richard were strong supporters of St. Dominic School through the many, many activities of their children, grandchildren and now great-grandchildren, all of whom attended the school. She was a member of St. Francis Church.
Their greatest joy was being an active part of the lives of their eight children and their families. They believed their children were their "diamonds."
Dolores took every opportunity possible to host or be at a family gathering. She taught her children about the importance of faith and family. She went out of her way to make every holiday special, from the "Penny Candy Store" on the Fourth of July, St. Nicholas and the stockings, to making sure the "Valentine's Man" made his deliveries.
Richard Mathias Obert, 93, of Quincy passed away in his home on Friday, December 11, 2020.
Richard was born November 30, 1927 to Mathias C. and Esther L. (Hufendick) Obert in Quincy, Illinois.
On June 20, 1959 he married Dolores C. Hildebrand
in St. Francis Solanus Catholic Church in Quincy.
She preceded him in death on February 19, 2013.
.
His life commitment was to his wife and family, and this was never more evident than in the last few years that he and Dolores had together. Following her receiving a kidney transplant he never left her side. It was known that if you saw one you were likely to see the other. Watching the two of them glide across the dance floor in their younger days let you know they were a team.
Their marriage was blessed with eight children; James (Karen), Yvonne (Gerald “Booty”) Campbell, Richard, Steven (Penny), Alan (Todd), Mathias (Amy), Leon and Joanne (Jeff) all of Quincy.