Alice Ann Golby

Alice Ann Golby was born in Peoria, Illinois, the daughter of Cecil and Katherine (Noonen) Simons of Princeville, Illinois on March 20, 1938.  She graduated from Princeville Community High School in 1956 and from Marycrest College, Davenport, Iowa in 1960. She passed away on July 15, 2021.

Alice Ann married James L. Golby at St. Mary of the Woods Church in Princeville on July 25, 1964.  They are the parents of four children: Katherine (Eric) Stewart of Dwight, IL, Margaret (Craig) Gustafson of Kewanee, IL, Dr. Angela Golby of Morton, IL, and Dr. James T. (Kristen) Golby of Austin, TX. Grandchildren are Sarah (Jacob) Burd, Ethan Stewart, Melissa Stewart, Matthew Gustafson, Alison (Connor McDonald) Gustafson, Elizabeth Gustafson, Kathleen Golby, Madeline Golby, John David Golby, Luke Golby, and Peter Golby. Sarah and Jake gave Grandma and Grandpa Golby the blessing of their first Great-Grandchild, Sadie Ann Burd.

She was a member of Saint John Paul II Parish in Kewanee and its Altar and Rosary Society and C.F.M. Alice Ann served two years as an officer of Rock Island Deanery as Rural Life Chairman.

Employed with the University of Illinois Extension Service in Henry County, she worked extensively with adult and 4-H youth programs. Weekly columns appeared in the Star Courier, and regular features “Coffee Time Comments” were routinely given on Radio WKEI.  Professional articles were published in the Journal of Home Economics and in FORECAST magazine.  She enjoyed presenting numerous programs for service clubs, social gatherings, and youth workshops throughout the area.  As a leader in the Extension District, she was accepted into Gamma Sigma Delta, Illinois Chapter. She was listed during successive years in Outstanding Young Women of America. Alice Ann was honored with the Marycrest Distinguished Service Award by her alma mater in an annual recognition ceremony. 

Alice Ann impacted many in the Henry County and Kewanee communities in her professional life and with her personal touch.  Her leadership roles included serving as a member on the Henry County Assessment Committee for the White House Conference on Children and Youth, the Henry County Welfare Services Committee, and Henry County Home Economists.  She was a board member for the School for Handicapped Children and for United Fund of Kewanee.  Alice Ann served as secretary of the Kewanee Commission on Human Relations.  She was a member of Catholic Book Club, Ladies Reading Club, and Chapter CS, P.E.O.  She was a charter member and officer of the Kewanee branch of A.A.U.W.  She chaired the all-inclusive highlight “Small World Kewanee,” an event of unity and celebration.

Alice Ann was preceded in death by her parents who meant the world to her and whom she has missed dearly. As an only child, her close family circle included wonderful aunts, uncles, and cousins whom she loved and many of whom have passed on. She was also preceded in death by her in-laws, John and Elizabeth (Larkin) Golby. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, July 20 at Saint John Paul II Parish in Kewanee. Celebrant will be Fr. Johndamaseni Zilimu. Visitation will be held from 5:00-8:00 p.m., Monday, July 19 at Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee with recitation of the rosary at 4:00 p.m. Burial will take place at 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 20 at St. Mary of the Woods Cemetery in Princeville. Memorials may be directed to the Kewanee Schools Foundation and the Henry County 4-H Foundation.

Her family would like to express their deep appreciation and gratitude to all those who have touched Alice Ann’s life. She cherished those friendships and many kind and caring gestures.

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