1919
Henry
2008
Henry Julius Desmet
May 29, 1919 — November 15, 2008
Henry Julius DeSmet, 89, of Moline, Illinois, beloved father, neighbor, and friend, passed away on Saturday, November 15, 2008.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd. 6601-38th Avenue, Moline. Visitation is one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial is in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Rock Island with military honors conducted by Moline American Legion Post #246. Memorials may be made to Disabled American Veterans.
Henry was born in Moline, the son of Alphonse and Marie Justine DeSmet. They lived in Belgium while he was a toddler and returned to America through Ellis Island in 1923.
Henry married Marjorie Helen Hay of Rock Island on July 3, 1940. She passed away May 5, 1970 at the age of 49; they were blessed with 30 years of marriage. In 1971, Henry married Mary Jane Hoog MacCall of Moline. She passed away October 30, 2006 at the age of 91 after 35 wonderful years of marriage.
Henry proudly served in the US Navy during World War II serving in the Pacific. He was a member of the Plumbers and Steamfitters Union Local No. 25 for 62 years, working the majority of those years for Melvin McKay Plumbing & Heating. He retired on a medical disability in 1976 and lived in Florida for several years before returning to Illinois in 1990.
Henry had a great sense of humor, a zest for people and life, and lived each day to the fullest. People loved to be around him. He loved his workshop, creating beautiful grandfather clocks or fixing what needed mending. He enjoyed gardening, feeding the wild birds and animals, and working on small engines. He never turned down a request for help and gave freely of his time and talent.
He is survived by two daughters and their husbands Suzanne (Thomas) MacCall, Kathleen (Garald) Qualls all of Moline, two grandchildren Dr. Benjamin (Melinda) MacCall, Louisville, Kentucky, and Megan MacCall of Chicago, Illinois, and a great-grandchild, Elyse Marie MacCall. He also has stepchildren Julie D. Schumacher, Stockton, California, John (Linda) MacCall of Moline, and Robert D. MacCall, Montrose, Colorado, and nine step grandchildren, and many step great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his spouses, a brother, William V. DeSmet and two beloved poodles, Mitzi and Mimi.
The family wishes to express their sincere thanks to Drs. Keeven, Enriquez, S. Reddy, Kovach, Luebbers. Their talent provided the maximum quality of life for Henry and extended his stay on this earth. Special thanks also to caregivers who gave love as well as service: Tom Hall, Carol Krantz, LuAnn Hockill, Deb Straub; he loved this extended family.
Online condolences may be expressed to Henry's family by visiting his obituary at www.esterdahlmortuary.com.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd. 6601-38th Avenue, Moline. Visitation is one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial is in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Rock Island with military honors conducted by Moline American Legion Post #246. Memorials may be made to Disabled American Veterans.
Henry was born in Moline, the son of Alphonse and Marie Justine DeSmet. They lived in Belgium while he was a toddler and returned to America through Ellis Island in 1923.
Henry married Marjorie Helen Hay of Rock Island on July 3, 1940. She passed away May 5, 1970 at the age of 49; they were blessed with 30 years of marriage. In 1971, Henry married Mary Jane Hoog MacCall of Moline. She passed away October 30, 2006 at the age of 91 after 35 wonderful years of marriage.
Henry proudly served in the US Navy during World War II serving in the Pacific. He was a member of the Plumbers and Steamfitters Union Local No. 25 for 62 years, working the majority of those years for Melvin McKay Plumbing & Heating. He retired on a medical disability in 1976 and lived in Florida for several years before returning to Illinois in 1990.
Henry had a great sense of humor, a zest for people and life, and lived each day to the fullest. People loved to be around him. He loved his workshop, creating beautiful grandfather clocks or fixing what needed mending. He enjoyed gardening, feeding the wild birds and animals, and working on small engines. He never turned down a request for help and gave freely of his time and talent.
He is survived by two daughters and their husbands Suzanne (Thomas) MacCall, Kathleen (Garald) Qualls all of Moline, two grandchildren Dr. Benjamin (Melinda) MacCall, Louisville, Kentucky, and Megan MacCall of Chicago, Illinois, and a great-grandchild, Elyse Marie MacCall. He also has stepchildren Julie D. Schumacher, Stockton, California, John (Linda) MacCall of Moline, and Robert D. MacCall, Montrose, Colorado, and nine step grandchildren, and many step great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his spouses, a brother, William V. DeSmet and two beloved poodles, Mitzi and Mimi.
The family wishes to express their sincere thanks to Drs. Keeven, Enriquez, S. Reddy, Kovach, Luebbers. Their talent provided the maximum quality of life for Henry and extended his stay on this earth. Special thanks also to caregivers who gave love as well as service: Tom Hall, Carol Krantz, LuAnn Hockill, Deb Straub; he loved this extended family.
Online condolences may be expressed to Henry's family by visiting his obituary at www.esterdahlmortuary.com.
To send flowers to the family in memory of Henry Julius Desmet, please visit our flower store.