Gilbert Ray Habbe (84) of Effingham

Gilbert Ray Habbe, 84, of Effingham, IL, passed away on Saturday, January 1, 2022, at Willowbrook Memory Support Residences in Effingham surrounded by his loving family.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham with burial to follow in St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery in Louisville, Effingham/Clay County line. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Wednesday prior to the service at funeral home. Memorials may be made to St. John’s Cemetery Fund, Louisville, or the donor’s choice. Online condolences may be shared by clicking here. 

Ray was born on July 21, 1937, the son of Edward and Helena (Traub) Habbe. He was baptized on August 11, 1937 and confirmed March 18, 1951 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Louisville. Ray married his best friend Sue Woods on August 17, 1957. He was a loving and generous husband. Ray was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, in Effingham. He was employed at Fedders for 47 years until retiring in 2001. Ray loved his sports. He enjoyed watching the St. Louis Cardinals and the Fighting Illini. He was a faithful follower of the Effingham Flaming Hearts, St. Anthony Bulldogs, and Teutopolis Wooden Shoes basketball teams. His favorite pastime was reading frontier books, books of history, and biographies of past presidents. Ray enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his great-grandsons.

Ray is survived by his wife of 64 years, Sue Habbe of Effingham; daughter, Vicki (Rick) Manford of Effingham; granddaughter, Lindsey (Nick) Stewart of Effingham; great-grandsons, Hunter, Mason, and Max Stewart, all of Effingham; sister, Joyce Wolfe of Galesburg; brother-in-law, Ronnie (Susie) Woods of Flora; sister-in-law, Linda Young of Flora; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his son, Rande Habbe; parents, Edward and Helena Habbe; brothers, Alvin, Dean, Kenneth, Farrell, and Ronnie; sisters, Doris and Dorothy; in-laws, Loren and Eileen Woods; and brother-in-law, Terry Woods.

The family would like to express a special thanks to the staff at Willowbrook in Effingham for the excellent care. They quickly became a second family to Ray.