Arthur L. Sobery

Early morning January 28th, 2016 Arthur L. Sobery suddenly passed away from complications of diabetes, kidney and heart failure. He didn't want an obituary, so please don't tell him. He was born December 22, 1941 and was set to celebrate his 50th wedding anniversary to his wife, Jerry Kent Sobery this year. God bless her. Those that knew him understand his stubbornness, and when he decided it was time to go, OFF he went to the Promised Land. He didn't want a funeral either - so now that he can't argue - we are compromising with him and having a memorial February 14th . in Venice Florida at the Waterford Sports Club 1454 Gleneagles Dr, Venice, FL 34292 from 1pm to 4pm (Many thanks to Dom & Sue!). And he REALLY didn't want a viewing, so your memory of him will have to suffice. Art, otherwise known as ""Pop Art"" to his grandkids, grew up in Carbondale IL in the Sobery family bakery shop. He was always saying ""There HAS to be an easier way to make a living."" He was in the Carbondale Community HighSchool class of 1959. After getting suspended from SIU for driving on campus under the guise that he was delivering donuts, he enlisted in the Army where he was a medic and a tour-bus driver. He later graduated from SIU after returning from the military with a degree in Political Science. Art attended the Kent College of Law in Chicago Illinois, and then went on to become a top pharmaceutical sales representative for Merck & Co, United States’ second-largest drug company, in Glenview IL and then Cape Girardeau, MO. In the Chicago suburb of Glenview, he was one of the founders of The Henley Street Phil Harmonica Band (your typical 1970's jug band complete with banjos, washboards, and lots of kids with kazoos). He also was a long time member of the United Methodist Church choir, where his family endured hours of listening to him and the choir sing Handel's Messiah where he sang tenor and base. Art is survived by his wife Jerry Kent Sobery of Venice, FL, daughters Jori Sobery Curry of Libertyville IL and Georgia Hogan of Mundelein, IL - and the best son he ever had - Raymond Wiesner of Gelsenkirchen, Germany (In 2007 Art and family joyfully discovered he had a son in Germany). Art is being cremated because he didn't want to spend the money and take up space. It's illegal in Germany to have dad on the mantle (and his son Ray can't even believe that's a ""thing"") so he will reside with his wife and daughters. He also leaves his grandchildren AJ (Arthur James) Curry, Savannah Curry, Lea Wiesner, Henry Hogan and Rex Hogan who all will miss him teaching them to play backgammon and make homemade pizza from scratch. He is also survived by his brothers Fred and Charles Sobery and sister Molly Sobery who will miss throwing their hands up in defeat when discovering that no debate is winnable with their brother. Art and Jerry have lived in Venice, Florida since 2001 where after retirement, Art drove a big yellow school bus. He loved giving the kids word puzzles and anagrams to figure out on their ride to school. Art loved being a member of The Venice Gondoliers where he loved singing Barbershop. He also was a member of the Model A Club even long after he sold his Model A. In lieu of flowers (because you know he would think that was a waste of money) you are welcome to send donations to the Venice Gondoliers, Art's Barbershop group (and in his day, he DID have a 4 octave range). To sum it up, Arthur Sobery was a force to be reckoned with, but greeted all with Smiles, laughter and joking…and certainly jovial debates! Donations: Venice Gondoliershttp://www.venicegondoliers.com 941-966-4321 PO Box 641, Venice, FL 34284-0641