COELLO – John Dennis “Denny” Sobeck, 71, passed away on a beautiful cloudless, warm and sunny Thursday morning – October 10, 2024 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Chesterfield, MO, from complications related to end stage renal failure.
Born April 23, 1953, to John M. and Alberta (Cook) Sobeck in Christopher, IL, in the Miner’s Hospital, and a class of 1971 graduate of Christopher High School, he married Rebecca Moyers on November 15, 1974, at Mulkeytown Christian Church and they have long resided in Coello. Younger brother of Larry Sobeck (Carol) and Sue E. Haley (Robert), father of Justin (Kim) and Tacy (Chris), and Pawpaw to Gram Avery and Jackson David, Denny is survived by those who were fortunate to have loved him, as well as everyone lucky enough to have known him. Parents Alberta and John preceded him in passing, 1999 and 2003 respectively.
He enjoyed a varied career path through the years, starting as a mechanic and tow truck driver at Janello Motors, followed by 23 years at Old Ben #26 near Sesser. After the mine closed in 1997, he went back to Rend Lake College and SIUC to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Rehabilitation Sciences, graduating in 1999 and then working at Franklin-Williamson Human Services (Centerstone) as a Rehabilitation Case Manager, where he made an impact in the lives of the developmentally disabled population he cared deeply for until his retirement in 2015. Denny was also a second-generation 33rd degree Mason, and was one of the last members of the Christopher Lodge before it was consolidated.
After retirement, he purchased a Ford F350 and trailer and enjoyed hauling odd loads for others and remaining connections from Justin’s time in the rail industry – the most unique a pair of railcar wheels to Denver for Gram’s birthday one year. His grandsons were the highlight of his post retirement time, and he had recently expressed his goal was to see them drive and graduate high school. Denny and Becky traveled to see the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band from 1988-2022, averaging a few shows each year across the Midwest on their various tours. Aside from trips to Colorado to visit Tacy, Chris and Gram, Denny and Becky also visited New Orleans and Savannah/Tybee Island, GA with Justin, Kim and Jackson.
Denny chose to be cremated and a Celebration of Life service with Masonic Rights will be held on Nov. 23, 2024, from 1:30-6 p.m. with a memorial service at 2 p.m. at the West Franklin Historical Society (Former Mulkeytown Grade School) in Mulkeytown Illinois. A scholarship fund for his grandsons will be established for any memorials, but a better way to remember him is through the simple request to enjoy life to the fullest each day, because “it is what it is”.