Howard S. Dybedock

Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Dec. 24, 1940, after having survived the attack on Pearl Harbor, Howard S. Dybedock and his mother fled to the mainland, while his father fought throughout World War II on aircraft carriers in the U.S. Navy. After the war, the family settled in Bettendorf, Iowa, where he attended the Bettendorf school system and University of Iowa. He was a broadcast engineer, licensed by the Federal Communications Commission. Howard spent his career in radio and television broadcasting in Rock Island and Joliet, Ill., and Iowa City, Ottumwa and Fairfield, Iowa, before moving to Kankakee in 1974 to construct and manage WBYG, a high-power FM radio station that was subsequently sold to Milner Broadcasting in 1984. He then established and was the president of Midwest Tower Leasing Inc., and a broadcasting consulting firm, Dybedock and Associates Inc. He was an avid general aviation pilot and owned and flew many antique and aerobatic aircraft. He was also a ham radio operator, first licensed in 1954 at the age of 13, and held the highest class FCC license with the AK9F. He particularly enjoyed Morse code operation and was an active participant in ham radio contesting. He was a member of the Kankakee Area Radio Society, the National Association of Broadcasters, the Experimental Aircraft Association, the Aircraft Owners and Pilot's Association and a 25-year member and past president of the Kankakee Lion's Club. His passions included playing trombone with the New Horizons Band and the NHB Brass Quintet, sailing and hunting with his sons. As a member of St. John United Church of Christ in Kankakee, Howard served as a deacon, an elder and president of the congregation. He also found great joy in singing in the church choir. He is survived by his wife, Susan, of Kankakee; his children, Rhonda (Rob) Crink, of Noblesville, Ind., Dr. Lawrence (Traci) Dybedock, of Nixa, Mo., twin sons, Steven (Robin) Dybedock, of Chicago, and Scott (Audrey) Dybedock, of Brownsburg, Ind. Also surviving are stepsons, Dr. Erich (Tricia) Hertz, of Albany, N.Y., Carl Hertz (Dr. Heather Eisele), of Chicago, and Douglas (Kris) Marsh, of Bradenton, Fla.; seven grandchildren, nieces and nephews; and sister, Deanna Fuller, of Luverne, Minn. He was previously married to Charlene Dybedock, of Kankakee, who is his business partner in Midwest Tower Leasing Inc; and Sandra Dybedock, of Nixa, MO. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Lucy Rank Dybedock. Howard died Sunday (Sept. 25, 2011) at Provena St. Mary's Hospital in Kankakee. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Clancy-Gernon-Hertz Funeral Home, west Kankakee. A funeral service will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday at St. John United Church of Christ in Kankakee. The Rev. Barbara Lohrbach will officiate. Cremation rites will be accorded by Clancy-Gernon-Hertz Crematory, west Kankakee. If desired, memorials may be made to Hospice of Kankakee Valley, the Kankakee Lion's Club or St. John United Church of Christ in Kankakee. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Kankakee Valley - www.hkvcares.org/ or to Kankakee Lions Club

Howard S. Dybedock

December 24, 1940 - September 25, 2011