George W. Hoke, 73, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016 in his home, located here in Elgin, IL.

According to a press release from the school, “George was a long time faculty member of ECC spanning 26 years of service and being instrumental in his work with students in the Integrated Systems Technology division. He would have turned 74 next month.”

Hoke had been working here at ECC for more than 26 years in the Integrated Systems Technology division, which he basically founded himself.

He was born Nov. 2, 1942 in Moline, IL. He was the son of Raymond and Myrtle Dykes Hoke. He was an avid fan of Chicago sports teams including the Bears and Cubs and was also a huge NASCAR fan, according to Laird Funeral House.

Teachers here at ECC are deeply saddened by the death of Hoke, including his coworker Curtis Perrin.

“I thought long and hard about George and how he may have impacted my life. He was a friend, and in life you cannot say that about many people,” Perrin said.

Fellow teacher Kevin Edwardson had deeper condolences for the Hoke, who he had worked with for the past 10 years here at ECC.

Edwardson reminisced about some of the better moments he had with Hoke.

“George would come into my class after the students had left to drop off donuts,” Edwardson said.

Edwardson maintained contact with Hoke right up until his last few days.

“About 2 days before he died. He was at ECC Monday night and we talked for a while after class. He died the next day,” Edwardson said.

Edwardson also said that he had known him for 10 years and that he will miss him greatly.

According to Laird Funeral House, he is survived by his two sisters, Eloise (Frank) Stomberg of Rockford and Mary Ann (Bruce) Radue of Waterloo, Iowa and several nieces and nephews, as well as several friends including John, Richard and Bob.

Hoke was buried in a private ceremony in Arlington Memorial Park, ,located in Rockford, IL.