Firmin Elgart

Firmin Elgart, 90, of Peterburg, Il passed away on January 16, 2023 at Sunny Acres Nursing Home. He was born on September 9, 1932 in Urepel, France, Basque Country area, to Gartien and Marie (Urquilux) Elgart. He married Mildred Fay Young on May 19,1958 in Las Vegas, NV. They were married for 40 years before her passing.

Firmin is survived by one son, Firmin Rene Elgart and his wife Deloris of Yukon, OK; one granddaughter, Kristy; three great grandsons, Anthony, Mason, Daylen; one great granddaughter, Samantha; one sister, Pascale Antchagno; and several nieces, nephews, and many cousins near and around the Urepel, France area. He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Anna; and siblings John Batiest, Balkrian, Antite Dominic, Jean, Pierre, Bernard, and John Batiest.
Firmin came to America at the age of 18. His brother, Bernard, loaned him six hundred dollars to come to America. He had a job waiting for him working on a ranch in California as a vocation Sheepherder in Los Banos and Corcoran, CA. He and his wife moved to Stockton, CA where he worked at a box factory, following with a job at the Clorox Bottling Company there. He retired after 30 years from General Motors in Oklahoma City, OK. Following the death of his wife, he and his mother-in-law moved to Ada, OK making their home there together for more than 10 years. Following the death of his mother-in-law he moved to Petersburg, IL and lived at Countryside Estates Independent Living near his sister-in-law, Anna M Young Stier and the Albert Stier family, being included in many family gatherings and trips along with his niece Margaret Stier Santos and Nephew-in-law Ross Santos.
In his past years he enjoyed the traditional Hand Ball games with the other young friends in Basque traditional locations such as Bakersfield, CA and many other nearby towns.
He thoroughly enjoyed Golfing at Shambolee Golf Course every good weather day possible and at his last game he par’d 7 & 8 and on the 9 he birded.
A memorial visitation will be held for Firmin on January 29, 2023 from 1:00 – 3:00 PM at Hurley Funeral Home in Petersburg, IL. Memorials may be made to the Menard County Rural Fire. Burial will follow in Vamoosa, OK at the Cemetery joining his wife.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.hurleyfh.com
Hurley Funeral Home in Petersburg, IL is assisting the family with arrangements.