Harvey C. Weber was born Feb. 25, 1926, to Conrad and Marie (Rohrig) Weber on the farm in Friend. He lived almost his entire life in that house. He passed away in his sleep, after a long and prosperous life on Dec. 18, 2025, at the age of 99 at Cedarwood Assisted Living Center in Fairbury.
He was the oldest of four children. Harvey went to country school and learned to read from Mrs. Mona Barkley Searby. Harvey would later farm her farm for over 60 years. As a child of German immigrants, and the Great Depression, Harvey grew up to be a strong, hardworking man.
He graduated from Friend High School in 1943. He served in the Army and was stationed in Hawaii after World War II. Afterwards, he returned to Friend to farm. He started farming with a Case SC tractor and a two-row planter and raised cattle until his 90’s. He met Joan Easley at a dance, and they were married on April 15, 1951. The couple then farmed together and raised seven children, the first three in a small house without running water.
After Conrad and Marie moved to town, the family moved to the home place and raised corn, soybeans, wheat, hogs, cattle, chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits and horses. Every summer, truckloads of sweet corn were put up, and the county fair was the big event of the summer. Harvey was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church in Friend and every Sunday his family would fill an entire pew (in the middle on the right side) and occasionally one of the children would have to sit in between Grandma and Grandpa Weber.
He also served on the Friend Co-op board, and Friend School Board. He was also a member of the Exeter Feeders and Breeders, Saline County Pork Producers and the American Legion, He and Joan were members of the Friend Grange #390 from 1951 until it disbanded, he served for a time as Grange master.
Harvey and Joan loved to dance and could be seen at dances all over the area. They celebrated their 25th, 40th, 50th and 60th wedding anniversaries with dances. They could be seen at the grandchildren’s school events and seldom missed a football, basketball, softball game, wrestling match or race. Harvey hunted, fished, ice skated, and bowled with Thompson’s Locker, and he truly enjoyed a good meal finishing with pie. Harvey was an avid reader and read the newspaper daily, keeping up on current events and of course everything to do with farming.
He could be seen in later years driving around to check cattle and farms while keeping tabs on all commodity prices. He was extremely proud of his family and the continuation of farming.
Harvey is survived by his wife of 74 years, Joan Weber; children, Dale and Janice Weber, Mary Jo Weber, Mike and Marla Weber, Diane and Ron Odoski, Karen and Mike Horky, John and Mary Kay Weber and Jerry Fischer; 12 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Harvey is preceded in death by his youngest daughter, Jean Ann Fischer; brother, Donald Weber, and brothers and sister-in-laws, JoAnn Weber, Gene and Darlene Easley, Daryl Hodgin, and Sam Shutts.
The family invites you to a celebration of a "life well lived" Saturday, Dec. 27, at the United Methodist Church in Friend, followed by a luncheon at the San Carlo room.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Weber family for a future designation.
Arrangements by Lauber Funeral and Cremation Services - Friend.
