Louis E. Hebenstriet

Louis E. Hebenstriet, 89, of Galesburg, died at 8:42 a.m. December 31, 2013 at Seminary Manor. Louis was born March 4, 1924 in Frontenac, KS, the son of Louis F. and Mary C. (Wente) Hebenstriet.  He married Betty J. Walker on November 29, 1947 at the St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Weyerhaeuser, WS.  She preceded him in death on June 2, 2013. He is survived by four children; Deborah (husband, Raymond James) Nelson of WeeMaTuk, Bonnie (husband, Edwin) Woods of Mackinaw, Jill (husband, Paul J.) Marasa of Galesburg, David Hebenstriet of Mackinaw, ten grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, and three great great grandchildren; and one brother, Ernie (wife, Gloria) of Gardner, KS.  He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, one brother, Louis, and one sister, Marie Gmeiner. Louis was an Army Air Corp veteran of World War II and an Air Force veteran of the Korean War, serving as a flight engineer.  He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Ralph M. Noble American Legion Post #285. He attended Kansas State Teachers College, now Pittsburg State University, and left to assist in the family business.  A short time later he was offered a teaching position in the Industrial Arts Department of this college.  He was employed by the Kansas City Southern Railroad for eleven years, Outboard Marine Corp., at Lamar, MO, and Galesburg for twenty three years, as well as four years with the Chicago based Teledyne Company, where he became a Vice President and General Manager.  He retired in 1987. Louis was a member of three professional organizations: the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, the Society of Die-Casting Engineers, and the Society of American Value Engineers.  He was chair for the local chapter of the society of Manufacturing Engineers. He was a parishioner of Corpus Christi Catholic Church and a member of its choir; he was a past grand knight of the Knights of Columbus 4th degree and a honorary life member of the Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree. Funeral Mass will be 10 a.m. Monday, January 6, 2014 at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Rev. William Miller, I.C. will officiate.  Private burial will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery.  Visitation will be 2-3:30 p.m. Sunday, January 5, 2014 at Watson-Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory, Galesburg, with military rites conducted at 3:30 p.m. with the rosary being prayed following military rites.  Memorials may be made to Costa Catholic Academy, Corpus Christi Catholic Church, or Knox County Humane Society.