DAVID MALCOLM HURLBERT, 98, went Home to be with Jesus 11 August 2024. Born 3 May 1926 in the ancestral farmhouse bedroom on the NE corner of Hart and Forest Hills Roads, Rockford, IL. He graduated from Harlem High School 1944. He loved school and loved to read. He was on the Harlem football team.
He was unable to serve in WWII as his peers due to an injury. He had aspirations to be a veterinarian, but due to his father’s failing health, he took over the family farm. He met Mary Ellen Newman at a square dance and they married 8 June 1957 at the Baptist Church in Juda, Wisconsin. He was “Outstanding Young Farmer” of Winnebago County, IL and received a Case brand running gear. In March 1974, the family relocated to a farm in Clarno, WI when the state of IL bought all the family farms from the Rock Cut State Park. He won the beef open class carcass at the Green County Fair. After retiring from beef farming, he worked as Clarno Township chairman and later worked at the Clarno Recycling Center for many years. He would take many of the items people would toss and repair them.
He had a table to sell the items for the missions at the Clarno Zion United Methodist Church where he was a member. He loved people and loved to converse. He was a member of beef producers. David sang in the Clarno church choir and was on the Clarno church board. He loved to play Euchre weekly with his buds at the Equity sales barn. He played bridge weekly at the Monroe Senior center. He was a member of the Silver Sneakers exercise class at the Monroe YMCA.
He married Genevieve Hasselmann Fuchs 9 May 2003 (d. 15 Jan 2007).
He was preceded in death by his parents, Linus Parker Hurlbert and Erma Josephine Taylor Hurlbert; his siblings, Richard Taylor Hurlbert (Helen) IL, Martha Jane Dundore (Marvin) IL and Elizabeth Joanna “Betty Jo” Dutcher (Maynard) MA.
He is survived by his children, Scott David Hurlbert, Monroe, James Linus Hurlbert (Debra), Monroe, and Amy Jo Tongue (Stephen), Buena Vista CO; grandchildren, Marcus David Hurlbert (Megan) and expected child in November, Marissa Joy Hurlbert, Juda, Abram Antone Hurlbert (Alexis), Beloit, Tessa Marie Hurlbert, Juda, Joram Benjamin Hurlbert, Monroe, David Jeramiah Hurlbert, Monroe, Abby Jo Tongue Koroma (Osman), Grand Rapids MI, Lara Catherine Tongue Dykhuis (Timothy), Colorado Springs CO and Emma Taylor Tongue, Grand Rapids MI; and great granddaughters Jubilee Jo Koroma and Shekinah Marie Koroma.
He will be buried in Harlem Cemetery next to the Harlem Church on the NE corner of Harlem and N Alpine Roads. The land for the cemetery and church were donated by his great-great-grandfather, Asa Taylor, the first to be buried in the cemetery 6 Dec 1847 (b. 26 Aug 1797 Massachusetts due to a farming accident.
Visitation 11:00 a.m., service at 12:30 p.m., meal to follow, all at Koning Maple Lane Event Center, N3051 WI 81, Monroe WI 53566, Sunday, August 25, 2024.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Clarno Zion United Methodist Church Missions in David’s memory. Shriner Hager Gohlke Funeral Home is assisting the family.
