George W. Hawker

George W. Hawker, 65, of Kankakee died Wednesday (October 29, 2008)at the University of Chicago Hospital in Chicago IL. A gathering of friends and family will be held Saturday, November 8 from 2-6 p.m. immediately followed by a memorial service at the Kankakee Chapel of the Schreffler Funeral Homes. George was born on January 19, 1943 to Robert and June (Craft) Hawker. He was an owner and previous president of Illinois Fabricators Inc. from 1973 until he retired in 2005. He attended Culver Military Academy and was a 1964 graduate of Kankakee High School. George attended Bradley University and earned a degree in accounting from Olivet Nazarene University in 1969. He also served in the United States Army.He served on the boards of the Greater Kankakee Airport Authority and Riverside Medical Foundation. George belonged to the Kankakee Historical Society, KCC Cavalier Club and was a lifelong member of the Elks, serving as trustee for many years. He enjoyed his membership in the Retreat Club, Tuesday night golf league at the Kankakee Country Club and was an avid Chicago White Sox Fan. George was a licensed pilot and took great joy in flying. He enjoyed many fishing and hunting trips to Canada and the western U.S. Surviving are his wife Eileen (McCarthy) Hawker whom he married July 30, 1966 in Decatur IL; one son, Robert of Kankakee and one daughter Hillary of Chicago IL.; sister and brother in law, Mary and Douglas Fraser of San Carlos CA.; sisters-in-law Jacalyn Hawker of Bourbonnais; Kathleen Carpenter of St. Louis MO,; Patricia Berndt of Decatur IL; brothers-in-law, Thomas McCarthy and Gerald (Marsha) McCarthy of Decatur IL.; several nieces and nephews and many treasured friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Charles Hawker who died January 29,2008 and his uncle Richard V. Hawker. Cremation rites have been accorded. It was his wish that his cremains be settled over the family farm, which has been in his family since 1848.