Harold J. Hazen

Harold Hazen, 94, of Pekin, Il. passed away on Thursday, September 15, at OSF hospital in Peoria, Il. Dad was born on a very chilly October 4th morning, 1927 to Sylvan and Opal Hazen in rural Martinsville, Il. It was so cold that morning that they fired up the wood cook stove and placed newborn Harold in the oven to keep him warm. A "few" years later, driving with a date one evening, Dad came upon an accident of an overturned Volkswagen. Stopping to check he found one of the passengers, a young lady, Sharon Fasig, had been thrown into the back seat. In true "Knight in Shining Armor" fashionhe reached back and carried the young lady out of the car, drove her to the doctors home where, other than a few scrapes and bruises, got the green light to go about her evening. Romance soon ensued and Mom and Dad were married on September 7th, 1950. After serving our country in Korea, Dad came back home where they started their family. Mom and Dad were married 53 years when Mom passed on September 23, 2003. He is also preceded in death by his parents, Sylvan and Opal Hazen, in-laws Guy and Stella Fasig, daughter Kathy Garner, granddaughter Stephanie Hard, brother-in-laws Floyd Kline, Kelley Fasig and Stanley Fasig. Leaving to celebrate his life are his daughters Christy Danz of Pekin, and Deanna (Mark) Rosenfeld of Peoria, Il , son John (Laurie) Hazen of Pekin, sisters Mary Kline of Kingfisher, Ok and Shirley (Terry) Blanchard of Westfield, IL. The best Granddad, he also leaves 9 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren with one arriving in January 2023. As a young man, whether it be tending to the animals or working the land, he loved life as a farmer. He often spent time with his father in the fields plowing the land with a favorite horse or two, or later with his beloved 1949 WD Allis-Chalmers tractor, pulling his famous 3 bottom plow. Later, he worked as a machinist with Caterpillar Inc. retiring in 1991. He and Mom spent their retirement enjoying their grandchildren, family, camping, traveling and winters in Texas. He was a member of Liberty Baptist Church, Primetimers, and Celestial City Campers. Funeral services will be at 1:00 PM Monday, September 19, 2022 at Henderson Funeral Home & Crematory with Rev. Bill Carter officiating. Visitation will be from 11:00 AM 1:00 PM Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Maple Ridge Cemetery with military honors provided by the United States Arm and the Tazewell County Rites Team. Memorial contributions may be made to Liberty Baptist Church, 2105 Sheridan Road, Pekin, Il 61554. Funeral Service Monday, September 19, 2022 1:00 PM Henderson Funeral Home & Crematory 2131 Velde Dr. Pekin,Illinois 61554 Visitation Monday, September 19, 2022 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Henderson Funeral Home & Crematory 2131 Velde Dr. Pekin,Illinois 61554