George "Red" Hastings

George “Red” Hastings, age 77, of Savanna, Illinois, passed away April 25, 2017 at Mercy Hospital, Dubuque, Iowa. A funeral service will be held 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 30, 2017 at the Law-Jones Funeral Home, Savanna. Burial will be in Savanna Township Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Sunday, prior to the service.
George was born March 8, 1940 in Savanna, the son of Merle “Casey” and Evelyn (Noble) Hastings. He attended Savanna schools with the Class of 1958. George left high school early to join the US Army, serving as a truck driver in Vietnam and Germany. George married Joyce Daley, she passed away in 1989. On September 30, 1992, George married Shirley (Hicks) Miller. They have celebrated twenty-four years of marriage.
George loved the Railroad. He spent 46 years working as a Brakeman and Conductor beginning with the Milwaukee Railroad. He retired from the Railroad in 2000 and has always enjoyed remembering the stories of the Railroad life. After retiring, he began a successful mowing business and was still mowing last summer. George would smile, laugh and tell about life’s lessons with his grandchildren. He was always happy when camping, getting together with family, or having coffee with the guys at McDonalds.
George will be dearly missed by his wife, Shirley Hastings of Savanna; seven children, Mary Hastings of California, Mike Hastings of Kalamazoo, Michigan, Darcie Hastings of Murphysboro, Illinois, Connie (Jim) Hull of Darlington, Wisconsin, Ron (Lori) Miller of Savanna, Jay (Annette) Miller of Savanna, and John (Breanna) Rath of Bettendorf, Iowa; twelve grandchildren with one on-the-way; thirteen great grandchildren; two half-brothers, Chuck Knapp of Kalamazoo, Michigan and Butch Knapp of Freeport, Illinois; a sister-in-law, Vicky Hastings of Hanover, Illinois; two brother-in-laws, Bob Mielke of Pecatonica, Illinois and Les Glazier of Erie, Illinois; and several nieces and nephews. George was preceded in death by both parents; two sisters, Rosie Mielke and Marge Glazier; and a brother, Allen Hastings.