Eugene Hubert “Hop” Hartrich (96) of Ste. Marie

Eugene Hubert “Hop” Hartrich, age 96, of Sainte Marie, Illinois, passed away at 1:10 PM – Saturday, March 23, 2019, at the Newton Care Center in Newton, Illinois.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 AM – Thursday, March 28 at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Ste. Marie, Illinois, with Fr. Dean Probst celebrating mass. Burial will be in the St. Mary’s Cemetery with full military rites by the Ste. Marie American Legion Post #932. Visitation will be held 9:00-10:00 AM – Thursday at the church. In loving memory of Hop, memorials may be made to the Ste. Marie Foundation. Arrangements are under the care of the Meyer Funeral Home in Newton, Illinois. The obituary can be viewed and condolences left by clicking here.

Eugene better known as “Hop” was born in Sainte Marie, Illinois, on September 10, 1922, the son of Ferdinand and Mayme C. (Huber) Hartrich. Hop attended Assumption School in Sainte Marie and told stories of being taught by the Ursuline Sisters and of life growing up in Sainte Marie. Hop served during World War II in North Africa and Sicily. On his return from the war, Hop and his older brother, Lawrence (Sonny) went into business raising tomatoes for Libby, McNeill & Libby on 15 acres of Sainte Marie bottom ground given to them by their father. They soon after started the Hartrich Brothers Mill & Elevator in Sainte Marie and owned it until it was sold to Bob Glezen (Mont Eagle Mills) in 1986. Eugene married Maxine Cunningham on August 31, 1949, at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Sainte Marie, Illinois, and they made their home together in Sainte Marie for 69 years. Maxine preceded him in death on September 22, 2018. Hop and Maxine loved to spend their winters in Chokoloskee Island, Florida, boating and fishing, and made many great friends through the years. They also enjoyed traveling (they visited all 50 states), horses, black Angus cows, harness racing and rodeos. Hop also enjoyed woodworking and he made many things for their home in Sainte Marie and Florida...including bird houses and frames for his wife Maxine’s many beautiful paintings and quilted wall hangings. Hop was a lifetime member of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Sainte Marie, a 73-year member of the Sainte Marie American Legion Post 932 and a member of the Olney Elks Lodge #926.

Hop is survived by several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Hop was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Maxine; his siblings; infant brother, Lucian Hartrich; brother and sister-in-law Lawrence “Sonny” (Mary) Hartrich; sister, Rosemary Hartrich (Paul) Mullinax, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, James and Joan Cunningham; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Art and Alice Keller; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, I.D. and Florence Kocher.