Joseph C. Gonet, 84, of Coalton, died on Monday, July 27, 2020, at his home surrounded by his family.
A Celebration of Life will be held. Stiehl-Dawson Funeral Home in Nokomis is assisting the family.
Mr. Gonet was born Dec. 7, 1935, in Coalton, to Hubert and Mary (Pintar) Gonet. He married Marilyn McElroy on June 4, 1955, in St. Louis Catholic Church in Nokomis, and she survives. The couple just celebrated 65 years of marriage.
During his career, he worked as a barber for over 62 years, retiring in 2018. On his day off, he would cut hair at a nursing home in Litchfield.
Mr. Gonet was active on the Coalton Village Board for 43 years and was a member of St. Louis Catholic Church in Nokomis all of his life, attending Mass every Sunday. He was devoted to saying the Rosary and prayed the Rosary with a group every week at the Grotto behind the Pana Hospital for years. He also belonged to the Nokomis Jaycees, booking bands at the South Schoolgym including Head East, REO Speedwagon and many more back in the 1960s.
He coached the St. Louis Hawks basketball team, Nokomis Little League, Pony League and American Legion baseball. He was an avid Nokomis Redskins sports fan, never wanting to miss a game, and followed Virginia Tech, Notre Dame and the St. Louis Cardinals.
Mr. Gonet enjoyed golf, water skiing and taught children, friends and relatives how to ski on Lake Taylorville for many years. He was an outdoorsman and loved to hunt, fish and had bird dogs all his life. He was also a master gardener, sharing his love of organic fruits and vegetables with family and friends.
He was a dedicated family man and loyal and faithful husband who was always willing to lend a hand.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Gonet is survived by his children, Cheryl Bennett of Nokomis, Joran Bachtold of Chatham, Steve (Jennifer) Gonet of Green Valley, CA, and Edward (Sidney) Gonet of Petersburg; grandchildren, Nathan (Jennifer) Braye of Campbell, CA, Matthew (Tracey) Braye of Brownsboro, CA, Amy (Travis) Hough of Elmhust, Olivia Bachtold, Austin Bachtold, both of Chatham, Jeanee’ Gonet of Tahoe City, CA, Julianne (Nathan) Booye of San Diego, CA, August Gonet of New York, NY, Luke Gonet and Anna Lowenthal, both of Springfield; great-grandchildren, Jonah Braye, Avenley Horner, D.J. Horner, Drake Horner, Brock Horner, Ava Lindsey, Ryan Hough and Natalie Hough; sister, Priscella Gonet of Nokomis; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and siblings, Hubert, Tootie Guyot, Henry “Coose” Gonet, Annabelle and Mary “Babe” Thomas.
Online condolences to the family may be left at www.stiehldawsonfh.com.
