Person Page - 4786

Highland business owner dies
Highland — Billy G. Sackett, owner-manager of Oberbeck Grain Co. in Highland, died Tuesday at Anderson Hospital following a brief battle with cancer. He was 76.
     Besides operating one of the most well-known businesses in Highland, Sackett was also an active community member.
     "He was one of the best guys in the community and did a lot for the community," said Dale Rinderer, a longtime friend of Sackett.
     Sackett had served as a director of the Highland Area Community Foundation and First National Bank of Highland.
     He was a member of Highland Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5694, the Helvetia Sharpshooters, Highland Rotary Club and served on the School Land Acquisition Group. He was also active in his church, the Evangelical United Church of Christ. For his community involvement, Sackett was awarded the Highland Chamber of Commerce’s Bob Hardy Citizen of the Year Award in 2002.
     One of the things Sackett did was display a Christmas tree atop the feed mill tower at Oberbeck. The tree could be seen for miles atop its lofty perch, and was the first thing many people saw when visiting or passing through Highland during the holidays.
     Also around the holidays, Oberbeck stored commodities other than grain. Sackett allowed the Rotary Club to warehouse all the oranges and grapefruit there for the club's annual citrus sale.
     Sackett was a Highland native and graduated from Highland High School in 1949. After serving in the Marines on the front lines in Korea, he returned to Highland to join his father-in-law, Clarence Oberbeck, working at Oberbeck Feed Store.
     A grain elevator was added to the store operation in 1959 and a feed mill in 1965. Also in 1965, Oberbeck's Highland and O'Fallon locations were split, and Sackett became manager of the Highland branch—a job he continued until his death.
     "He never would have retired," said Jack Klaus, who was friends with Sackett since boyhood. "He was still down there every day at six o'clock in the morning. I golf, but he didn't golf. He didn't like most any type of sport, because all he liked to do was work."
     Visitation is 3 to 8 p.m. today at Spengel-Boulanger Funeral Home in Highland and 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday, with a 10 a.m. funeral at Evangelical United Church of Christ in Highland.

—The Belleville News-Democrat, Belleville, Illinois, 22 Jun 2007, p 15

Billy George Sackett, age 76, of Highland, IL., died Tuesday, June 19, 2007, at Anderson Hospital in Maryville, IL.
     He was born December 10, 1930, in Highland, IL., the son of Phineas and Irene (Gilomen) Sackett.
     On June 18, 1950, he married Joan M. Sackett, nee Oberbeck, who survives.
     Mr. Sackett graduated Highland High School in 1949; As a teenager he worked at Morlence Music Store, Steiners Mens Clothing Store and Boulanger Funeral Home. He served with the US Navy and the Marine Corps. during the Korean War as a Medical Corpsman. He started as a bookkeeper with Oberbeck Feed Company in O' Fallon, IL in 1949. After his military service in 1955 he started working with his Father In Law Clarence Oberbeck as manager of Oberbeck Feed Store in Highland. In 1965 he became President of Oberbeck. They bought FMBA Elevator in Highland and built a new elevator in 1959. In 1965 a new feed mill was built, then in 1995 they purchased Klenke Elevator in New Douglas.
     In 2002 he was awarded the Bob Hardy Community Service Award by the Highland Chamber of Commerce.
     Bill enjoyed bowling in younger years, yardwork, gardening, washing and polishing his cars, and babysitting his triplet great Grandchildren.
     He was a member of Evangelical United Church of Christ-Highland, IL.
     He was also a former member of the Board of Directors of the Highland Area Community Foundation; A Past President of Consistory of EvUCC, Highland, IL; Member & Past President of the Highland Rotary & Paul Harris Fellow; Member and Past Board of Directors of Illinois Grain & Feed Assoc; Former Board of Directors of First National Bank, Highland, IL; VFW Post #5694, Highland, IL; Helvetia Sharpshooters Society; Highland Historical Society
     Survivors include Wife-Joan M. Sackett, nee Oberbeck of Highland, Ill., Son-Jay B. (Mary Kay) Sackett of Pierron, Ill., Daughter-Traci J. (Robert) Luitjohan of Highland, Ill., Grandchild-Richard D. (Erika) Sackett of Sierra Vista, Ariz., Grandchild-Angela M. (John) Fears of Highland, Ill., Grandchild-Kristina K. Sackett of Highland, Ill., Grandchild-Todd R. Luitjohan of Highland, Ill., Great Grandchild-Caleb Knapp, Great Grandchild-Austin Baker, Great Grandchild-Caden Fears, Great Grandchild-Kaydence Sackett, Great Grandchild-Ethan Fears (Triplet), Great Grandchild-Lexie Fears (Triplet), Great Grandchild-Brennon Fears (Triplet), Sister-Colleen Poss of Highland, Ill.
     He was preceeded in death by Father-Phineas E. Sackett, Mother-Irene B. Sackett Brookman, nee Gilomen, Step Father-Kenneth Brookman, Brother In-law-Homer H. Poss, Jr.
     Arrangements are being handled by Spengel-Boulanger Funeral Home in Highland, Ill.
Service Information
     Visitation will be held from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM Friday, June 22, 2007, at Spengel-Boulanger Funeral Home in Highland, IL, and from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM Saturday, June 23, 2007 at Evangelical United Church of Christ.
     Funeral service will be at 10:00 AM on Saturday, June 23, 2007, at Evangelical United Church of Christ in Highland, IL., with Rev. Dr. David Beebe, Interim Senior Pastor, Evangelical United Church of Christ-Highland, IL officiating.
     Interment will be at Highland City Cemetery in Highland, Ill.
     Memorial contributions may be made to Evangelical United Church of Christ, St. Joseph Hospital or the Charity of Donors Choice.

—Find a Grave, unsourced

Joan M. Sackett, age 92 of Highland, IL, died Monday, April 22, 2024, at HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland, IL.
     She was born on Monday, May 11, 1931, in Highland, IL, the daughter of Clarence and Ida (nee Suess) Oberbeck.
     On Sunday, June 18, 1950, she married Billy George Sackett at E & R Church, by Rev. Fred C. Alldrich, who passed away on Tuesday, June 19, 2007.
     She was a member of Evangelical United Church of Christ. She was also a Honorary member of Women’s Guild, Faith Countryside Homes Auxiliary, VFW Post #5694 Auxiliary, Historical Society, St. Joseph’s Hospital Auxiliary, Meals On Wheels, Marathon Bridge, American Red Cross, and Prayer Shaw Group.
     Joan was born and grew up in Highland, IL. She graduated from Highland High School in 1949, where she was the 1949 Homecoming Queen. She traveled with husband while he was in service and returned to Highland after his service was completed. She worked at Tschannen Ben Franklin, James Byrnes Attorney, Cyclone Fence and A. B. Dick Co. in Chicago, IL, Howe Hardware in California and Oberbeck Feed Company, which her grandfather Henry started and her father and then her husband owned. She spent many years as Secretary-Treasurer of Oberbeck Feed Company. They adopted a son in 1958 and their daughter was born in 1960. She enjoyed volunteering at church, with the nursery and ushering; was in charge of Women’s Guild Honor Guard; volunteered at blood bank at the V.F.W. for years and Meals on Wheels for years. They traveled to Australia, Greece, Hawaii, all over Europe and the United States; member of and traveled with the “Grazed Across America Society”. She liked playing Rummikub with a special group of ladies at Cedarhurst. Joan enjoyed golfing, playing Bridge and any other card game. She loved helping and spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
     Survivors include: Daughter – Traci J. (Robert “Bob”) Luitjohan, Highland, IL; Former Daughter-In-Law – Mary Kay (Luke) Schumacher, Highland, IL; Grandchildren – Richard D. (Rochelle) Sackett; Angela M. (John) Fears; Kristina K. (Aaron) Strasen; Todd R. (Sabrina) Luitjohan; Great Grandchildren – Caleb Knapp; Austin (significant other Kenzie Schroeder) Baker; Caden Fears; Kaydence Sackett; Ethan Fears (triplet); Lexie Fears (triplet); Brennon Fears (triplet); Brooks Luitjohan; Weston Luitjohan; Kemper Strasen; Julian Herrera; Very Special Cousin – Janet (Sam Jr.) Jenny; Nephew – Keith T. (Laurie) Poss; Nieces – Sherry L. Fletcher; Sheila L. (Lynn) Beil.
     She was preceded in death by: Father – Clarence W. Oberbeck; Mother – Ida D. Oberbeck, nee Suess; Husband – Billy George Sackett; Son – Jay Billy Sackett; Sister-In-Law – Colleen Poss; Brother-In-Law – Homer H. Poss, Jr; Nephew – Michael S. Poss.
     Arrangements are being handled by Spengel-Boulanger Funeral Home in Highland, IL.
q     Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at Spengel-Boulanger Funeral Home in Highland, IL and from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM on Friday, April 26, 2024, at Evangelical United Church of Christ in Highland, IL.
     Funeral Service will be at 10:00 AM on Friday, April 26, 2024, at Evangelical United Church of Christ, with Rev. William E. Kapp, Pastor, Evangelical United Church of Christ, officiating.
     Interment will be at Highland City Cemetery in Highland, IL.
     Memorial contributions may be made to Evangelical United Church of Christ, St. Joseph Hospital, Highland Rotary Club or Highland Area Community Foundation.

—WGEL Radio, online, Greenville, IL, 23 Apr 2024