A brightly lit Christmas tradition
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
In memory of Mike Robeen
By Carissa Sitki
Carissa Sitki/Jersey County Journal
Calhoun County’s Christmas star lights up the night in memory of Mike Robeen. This is the 29th year that Curt and Carol Robeen have placed the star on their property to honor their late son.
Drivers headed toward Calhoun County have likely noticed the return of the large blue star that adorns the bluffs along State Highway 100, a Christmas tradition in the area that spans nearly three decades.
The star, which hangs just past Calhoun High School above the red and white storage buildings, serves as a shining reminder of the Christmas season for many Calhoun County folks and visitors, but to Curt and Carol Robeen and their family, the star has another meaning.
In September of 1993, Curt and Carol lost their 25-year-old son, Michael “Mike” Robeen, in a tragic auto accident. The following year, the couple hung the star in his memory.
“We started putting up the star in 1994, after our son passed away,” said Carol. “In honor of him.”
The couple had the idea to construct a star with a wood frame and wire panel.
“We got the idea and I remember sitting at the hardware store arranging the lumber in the shape of a star, right there on the floor in the aisle,” said Carol, “and I said, ‘I think we can do this.’”
Carol, who grew up in Pleasant Hill, Ill., said that there was a similar star that was put up in her town each year.
“When I was growing up in Pleasant Hill, there was a star,” said Carol, “so the memory of that kind of inspired our star.”
The Robeens constructed the star themselves and secured it to a large wheel. The only issue they ran into was a lack of electricity in the woods on the bluff. However, according to Curt, the late Matt Lorton, heard about the dilemma and came to help.
“Thanks to Matt we were able to get it wired up with electricity,” said Curt. “He came out and got it all set up.”
The structure itself is around 15 ft. wide by 15 ft. tall with 200 bulbs lighting the fixture. There has not been a lot of need for repairs on the star, even the bulbs have only been replaced once.
“A few years ago we changed out the bulbs to LEDs,” said Carol. “The new bulbs made it a lot brighter.”
The blue color of the star also holds significance to the family, since Mike was an officer and blue is typically associated with law enforcement.
“The color blue stands for law enforcement and Mike was the town police officer for Hardin,” said Carol.
According to the Robeens, the star used to be mounted to a tree that was knocked down in a small tornado. The fixture is now tied down on either side atop the stump of the former tree.
Curt and Carol put up the star for years, but now that the two are getting a bit older, they’ve recruited some help from family members.
“Our daughter, JoAnn; and son-in-law, Terry Hausman, help us get the star up these days,” said Carol. “If it wasn’t for them, I don’t think we could still do it.”
Finally, the Robeens hope that this beloved tradition will live on well into the future.
“We’re going to keep putting up the star as long as we’re able,” said Curt. “And we hope our kids continue to put it up after we’re gone.”
The star faces out over the Illinois River and can be seen for miles. It is visible from Dec. 1 until Jan. 1, with New Year’s Eve being the last night of the year to see it shine.
