Matthew Hubly

Matthew Hubly -- KankakeeChief Matthew P. "Matt" Hubly, 43, of Kankakee, passed away on Thursday (Feb. 7, 2008) surrounded by family and friends. Visitation for Matt will be from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m. Friday at the Clancy-Gernon-Hertz Funeral Home, west Court Street. A firefighter walk-through will be conducted at 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Bishop McNamara High School in Kankakee with visitation beginning at 9 a.m. The family has requested NO flowers, but that memorials are given to the family's wishes.Matt was born on Jan. 7, 1965, the son of James J. and Ruah Laase Hubly of Kankakee, who survive. A 1983 graduate of Eastridge High School, Matt went on to Lincoln Technical Institute of Technology in Indianapolis, completing the Diesel Truck Technology program. He began his working career for Johnson's Ace Hardware and then moving to 4K Garage in Kankakee shortly after vocational graduation. Matt also worked for Triangle Diesel Injection Sales & Service, leaving them in 1994 to pursue a career with Snap-On Inc. Matt was an independent Snap-On dealer for seven years, meeting some wonderful people that he missed long after turning to the teaching profession. He was hired by the Kankakee Area Career Center in August 2003 as the Fire/Rescue instructor. Through Matt's involvement with the Career Center, Matt has been able to bring to numerous students the joy and compassion that comes with being a firefighter. While with the Area Career Center, Matt was a SkillsUSA advisor, a National Contest advisor in which 2007 was the first year in which the firefighting skills competed on the national level. He also served as a contest supervisor at the state level. In addition, Matt served on the I-KAN Emergency Response and Crisis Management Project Leadership Team. He worked on behalf of improving school safety by implementing the red and green cards that are now present in classrooms across Kankakee and Iroquois counties.He joined the Kankakee Township Fire Protection District in October 1991 and worked his way through the rank of firefighter to be appointed Fire Chief in 2003. As a 16-year member of the department, Matt obtained numerous fire certifications, including Certified Firefighter III, Fire Apparatus Engineer, Vertical 1 Ops, Firefighter Instructor 2, Confined Space Rescue, Trench Ops, Vehicle Machinery Operations, HazMat Technician 2, HazMat Advisor, CPR/First Aid Instructor and had recently obtained his Fire Officer 1. Matt has also served as past president of the Kankakee Valley Tactical Rescue Team, past president of the Kankakee Township Firefighter's Association and served on the Governance Committee for the Kankakee Valley Fire Academy, of which he was an instructor.In his spare time, Matt enjoyed home repairs, was a former member of the Sunday Nite Victory Couples bowling league and served as past vice-president and secretary of the Kankakee Elks PONY League baseball team. Matt had also coached Little League teams for the Knights of Columbus. He also enjoyed working alongside his brother, J.T., for Hubly's Towing and Repair of Kankakee.Matt is survived by his wife, Debra (Meyer) whom he married on April 22, 1989, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, of which he was a member. He is also survived by two sons, Aaron Hubly, who is a sophomore at Bishop McNamara High School, and Noah Hubly, who is a seventh grader at St. Paul Lutheran School. In addition, he is survived by a brother and sister-in-law, J.T. and Paula Hubly of Kankakee; sister and brother-in-law, Carrie and Dan Petry of Kankakee; and one sister-in-law, Patty (Ray) Hubly of Bourbonnais; along with several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by brother, Ray Hubly; both paternal and maternal grandparents; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law.Matt had lived life to the fullest and leaves behind wonderful memories that his family, his students, co-workers, and firefighting family will long remember. Remember the laughter and lessons; don't dwell on the tears; that would be the best way to remember me.

Matthew Hubly

January 7, 1965 - February 7, 2008