Howard Evan Emmett

Emmett, Howard Evan 82, fortified by the Sacrament of the Holy Spirit, went to be with the Lord and Savior at Home, attended by his family,at 10:45 a.m., Wednesday, November 23, 2005. Howard was born on June 11, 1923 in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Rose (Romano) Emmett and Ernest Evan Emmett. He married Louise (Petersen) Emmett on September 21, 1951 and they enjoyed 52 years of marriage. They had three sons, Peter Joseph Emmett and his wife Gwyn (Crawshaw) of Carbondale, Robert Evan Emmett of Cobden and John Howard Emmett and his wife Bernis (Soper) of Mountaintop, PA. Howard adored his grandchildren, Robert Neal Crawshaw and Amber Dawn Crawshaw of Carbondale and David Hunter Emmett and Grace Sunglee Emmett of Mountaintop. Howard proudly served his country during World War Two in the Pacific Theater, in combat action with the 44th Tank Battalion. he was first attached to the 187th Regimental Combat Team in New Guinea and later with the First Cavalry Division during the invasion of the Philippines at Leyte Gulf. His unit liberated over 4000 allied prisoners of war, saving them from execution, form the interment camp at Santo Thomas University in Manila in February 1945. he was awarded numerous personal decorations, including the Bronze Star Medal with "V" device, tank while under direct enemy fire. After the surrender of Japan he was part of the Occupation Force and was discharged as a Corporal in December 1945. He attended Wright College in Chicago after the war and was employed as a loan officer, retiring from LaSalle Bank in downtown Chicago in 1986. He was active in local politics, was elected a Markham Park District Commissioner and was a member of VFW Post 2580 in Midlothian, Illinois. He was most recently a member of St. Francis Xavier Church in Carbondale and will be fondly remembered by his many friends as well as his extended family. He was honored to be the oldest "Member" and patron of St. Francis Youth group and fully supported their evangelistic endeavors. He was preceded in death by his parents, his older brother Robert and his wife, Louise, who entered heaven on October 1, 2003. A memorial service will be held at Walker Funeral Home, 112 S. Poplar, Carbondale, IL (618-529-3100) on Friday, November 25. Family visitation from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. friends from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. He will be interred with full military honors beside his wife at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Joliet, Illinois, on Monday, November 28. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the St. Francis Youth Pilgrimage Fund. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home or can be mailed to the church at 303 S. Poplar, Carbondale, IL, 62901.