STREATOR- Eugene (Gene) Hozie was born May 8, 1932 in Streator to William and Margaret Hozie. He graduated from St. Stephen grade school and Streator High School in 1950. He played baseball for SHS and the American Legion, playing as a catcher and was given the nickname “Yogi”. Sgt. Hozie served two years with the US Army at Fort Sill, Oklahoma where he taught mathematics and gunnery.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 AM Wednesday at St. Michael the Archangel Church with Monsignor Philip Halfacre, officiating. Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 PM Tuesday at Solon-Telford Funeral Home. Burial with Full Military rites will be in St. Anthony’s Cemetery. Cremation rites have been accorded.
Hozie married Dorothy Meyers in St. Anthony Church on February 9, 1957. She survives, along with their six children: Barbara (Craig) Lyons of New Lenox IL, Stephen (Karin) of Coppell TX, Susan (Ben) Hoar of Korat, Thailand, William (Janet) of Grand Prairie TX, Amy (Don) Melrose of Corpus Christi TX and her twin sister Peggy (Jon) Krouse of Shorewood WI. They have 24 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
Hozie was employed in the forming department at Owens-Illinois Glass Company for 27 years, taking and early retirement and forming his own company, Hozie Appliance Repair. He was always good at fixing things; thus he took and electronic course and started repairing small appliances such as toasters and coffee pots, soon becoming skilled at repairing kitchen and laundry appliances. He was self-employed but did repair work for Dells Appliances. After he retired in 2000 he worked part time for John and Joe Florist, following in the footsteps of his father, who had also worked there.
He was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus, active member of St. Anthony parish and served on the parish council, member of the Streator Archery club, Streator photo club and Streator Eagles. He and his wife loved to dance and enjoyed western dancing for several years with the Streator Bootkickers. He enjoyed photography and built his own darkroom to develop photos. Gene was a skilled handyman, loving husband and generous father and was very proud of his large family.
Besides his parents he was preceded in death by his two brothers, Larry and Jerry Hozie.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to St. Michael’s parish or the Parkinson Foundation.
Condolences may be left for the family at www.solontelford.com
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Visitation
Solon-Telford Funeral Home
Tuesday June 12th, 2018
4:00pm - 7:00pm
301 S Park St
Streator, IL 61364
Mass of Christian Burial
St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church
Wednesday June 13th, 2018
11:30am
801 Lundy St
Streator, IL 61364
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to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Eugene S. "Gene" Hozie, please visit our floral store.