Hobart "Hobie" Gaar

Hobart 'Hobie' Gaar passed from this life to eternity on February 25, 2013 at the age of 82 while residing in Palm Desert, California. He was the youngest of four siblings born on October 7, 1930 in Thomson, Illinois to John and Helen (McGinty) Gaar. Graduated from Freeport High School in 1948 and worked at Micro Switch Corporation until 1951 when he left to serve in the US Navy, as an Aircraft Electrician on the U.S.S. Salisbury Sound during the Korean War. After his military service, he enrolled in the University of Illinois earning an Electrical Engineering degree. With the beginning of the Space Age, Hobie moved his family to California in 1959, initially working for Douglas Aircraft Corporation. In 1961 Hobie was recruited by TRW Systems to join their thriving Aerospace program. He worked at TRW until his retirement in 1991. His love of adventure and travel was satisfied upon retirement with visits to many historical and cultural landmarks around the world, including his native Ireland and relatives in Dinkelsbuhl, Bavaria in Germany. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, June Wilhelms, daughter Cathy Beeler (Terry) of California; Son David (Margaret) of Texas; 4 Grandsons, and special niece Donna Hansen of California. Proceeded in death by parents; brothers Jack and Gerald, and sister Junella Fritsch. Memorial Service will be held at BurkeTubbs on April 9th at 1:00, with a half hour visitation prior to service. A committal service immediately following at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. Visit the guest book at www.burketubbs.com