Harrison “Harry” Streeter died at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 10, 2012, at his home in Champaign.
Harry was born Feb. 9, 1926, in Kankakee, the second child and only son of Harry Sweet Streeter and Esther Rauen Streeter. He married Imogene “Imie” Carroll on July 21, 1962. She survives.
Other survivors include sisters, Priscilla Deam and Mary Martin, both of Kankakee, and Naomi Morris of Glenview. He left 11 nieces and nephews.
Immediately after graduation from high school, Harry served in the Navy for two years, including 15 months aboard ships in the western Pacific area and was present in Tokyo Bay when the peace treaty was signed.
After being discharged, he enrolled at the University of Illinois and graduated in 1951 from the College of Law. He practiced law for five years in Kankakee before returning to the University at the age of 30 to begin studies as a freshman in engineering. His goal was to become a patent attorney.
Soon thereafter he was hired part-time to teach the course in engineering law and discovered a passion for classroom teaching. Thirty-four years later he retired from the Department of General Engineering as an associate professor. He received recognition for both his teaching and student advising. During that time he earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in mechanical engineering and a Ph.D. in industrial engineering from the University of Iowa.
For many years Harry also worked, part-time, as a consultant and expert witness in accident analysis and reconstruction, in both industrial and motor vehicle areas. During his professional life he was a licensed attorney, a licensed professional engineer and a certified safety professional.
He was the author of a book, “Professional Liability of Architects and Engineers.”
Harry was interested in many different things, but his primary avocations were aviation and music. He was an instrument-rated private pilot, a longtime member of the Champaign County Radio Control Club, a co-founder of the Gray Eagles and an avid reader of aviation history. He played saxophone with almost all of the local dance bands during the 1950-60 era, was a member of the Parkland College Community Band for 15 years, and until shortly before his death performed with the Bud’s Buddies Group at local nursing homes.
Harry sang with the Barbershoppers for 14 years, and played piano, mostly for his own amusement.
Imie and Harry were world travelers and visited 70 foreign countries on all seven continents. They also were enthusiastic ballroom dancers, Illini sports fans and loved to attend events at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.
Harry was a member of the First Baptist Church of Champaign at Savoy and was baptized after accepting Christ as his Savior.
Harry was a humble man. He will be remembered for his honesty, his loyalty, his compassion for other people, his offbeat sense of humor and his total devotion to his wife, Imie. He suffered from an addiction to crossword puzzles and had a long extramarital love affair with his mistress, who was the University of Illinois.
A memorial service was held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 13, at the First Baptist Church of Champaign at Savoy. The Rev. Dr. Randy Gauger officiated. Visitation was from 10 to 11 a.m. at the church.
Memorials may be made in his name to Carle Hospice or the First Baptist Church of Champaign at Savoy.