Mr. Max M. Babcock, 75, of Morris, passed away peacefully Monday afternoon, Aug. 20, 2012, at Morris Hospital with his loving wife and family by his side.
Born April 11, 1937, in Morris, Max was the son of Clinton LaVerne and Geraldine (Murray) Babcock. He received his education in the Morris schools and graduated from Morris Community High School with the Class of 1955.
He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army reserves from Oct. 15, 1960 until he received his honorable discharge on March 30, 1966.
Max married his high school sweetheart Donna K. Kirk on July 11, 1959 at the First United Methodist Church in Morris.
He was employed with Federal Paper Board Company for 13 years. He then entered employment with the Morris Police Department and retired in August 1999 with the rank of sergeant after offering more than 33 years of service to the community. He served as head of security with the Morris Holiday Inn for 20 years.
Max was a true American who loved the red, white and blue.
He was a Chicago Bears and die-hard Chicago Cubs fan. He enjoyed putting puzzles together, and spending time visiting with his many friends and family, especially his 10 grandchildren.
With his wife, they attended the First United Methodist Church in Morris. He was a member of F.O.P., N.R.A. and D.A.V.
Survivors include his loving wife of more than 53 years, Donna, and their four children, Derek Babcock of Orlando, Fla., Kirk (Jeanne) Babcock of Battle Creek, Mich., Brandon (Marcy) Babcock of Germantown Hills, Ill., and Shawn Babcock of Milwaukee, Wis.; 10 grandchildren, Lindsey, Max, Curran and Patrick Babcock, Marie, Hannah and Jacob Babcock and Samantha, Bryce and Maggie Babcock; two sisters, Betty Williams of Mazon and Norma (Duane) Engelhard of Summit, N.J.; two sisters-in-law, Darva Babcock and Lorraine Babcock of Morris; and brother-in-law, Kenneth (Vivian) Kirk of Lockport, Ill.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Gwen Newport and Patricia Plett; and two brothers, Lowell and Verne Babcock.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24, with the Grundy County Law Enforcement Managers Association Honor Guard present at U.C. Davis & Sons Funeral Home Ltd., 301 W. Washington St., Morris.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 25, at the funeral home. Rev. Scott McClellan and Rev. Deborah Percell of the First United Methodist Church will officiate.
Interment with full military honors conducted by the Morris Color Guard.
Preferred form of remembrance would be memorial gifts directed to the First United Methodist Church or Grundy Community Volunteer Hospice.
Condolences to Max’s family can be extended online at www.ucdavisandsons.com.
U.C. Davis & Sons Funeral Home Ltd., 301 W. Washington St., Morris, is in charge of arrangements. For more information, call (815) 942-0084.
