Service:
At Noel’s request, no funeral service will be held.
Funeral home:
Fricke-Calvert-Schrader, Mt. Pulaski
Obituary
Noel Wayne Garlits passed away on
October 21, 2023, at home. Noel was born to John R.
“Butch” Garlits and Patsy (Ingram) Garlits in
Pensacola, Florida on April 24, 1958, while Butch
was stationed at the naval base. He was the oldest
of four children born to Butch and Patsy.
Noel graduated from Centennial High School in
Champaign, in 1976. A talented musician in his own
right, Noel had the opportunity to travel the
country with the band Savoy Brown as part of their
road crew. On the road he formed lifelong
friendships, particularly with the band’s founder,
Kim Simmonds and deepened his love for rock and roll
and blues music. He had an innate ability to play
just about any instrument put in front of him, but
his true love was playing guitar, which he was
self-taught.
After his travels with Savoy Brown, Noel returned to
Illinois where he worked as a stagehand for Sangamon
Auditorium at Sangamon State University, now
University of Illinois Springfield, and he later
retired from there.
He was preceded in death by his parents, maternal
grandparents Vivian Armstrong and Kenneth Ingram,
and paternal grandparents Noah and Maxine Garlits.
|
Noel is survived by his siblings Jon
Brett Garlits of Mt. Pulaski, JoAnne Garlits of
Champaign, and Melanie (Brandon) Lewis of Mahomet,
as well as niece and nephew, Penelope Lewis and
Benjamin Lewis of Mahomet.
At Noel’s request, no funeral service will be held.
A private, graveside service will be held for the
family at Steenbergen Cemetery, Mt. Pulaski. In lieu
of flowers, donations can be made to the charitable
organization of the donor’s choice.
Arrangements are being handled by
Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home, Mt. Pulaski.
Click here to send a note of condolence to the family of Noel Wayne
Garlits
|