Memories of Willy Henson aka Tobin Matthews

In memory of

Willy Henson aka Tobin Matthews

Fair Oaks, IN

November 6, 1940 - January 17, 2020

Nov 6, 1940 - Jan 17, 2020

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Dan C Pawlak Jr

2007, Willy's house

Willy and Donald J Smith

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Nancy (Warnken) Parsons

Dan C Pawlak Jr

2007, Willy's house

Willy and Donald J Smith

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Holly Rigsby

Nancy (Warnken) Parsons

Dan C Pawlak Jr

2007, Willy's house

Willy and Donald J Smith

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Holly Rigsby

Nancy (Warnken) Parsons

Dan C Pawlak Jr

2007, Willy's house

Willy and Dan C Pawlak Jr

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Holly Rigsby

Nancy (Warnken) Parsons

Comments:

Holly Rigsby

These are great Dan! You know I found the stack of pictures you and dad took together when I was at his house.... Read more These are great Dan! You know I found the stack of pictures you and dad took together when I was at his house. I am so glad you... Read more These are great Dan! You know I found the stack of ... Read more

Dan C Pawlak Jr

2007, Willy's house

Willy and Dan C Pawlak Jr

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Holly Rigsby

Nancy (Warnken) Parsons

Please consider a donation to any cause of your choice.

$100.00

Raised by 2 people

Learn more & give

Dan C Pawlak Jr

2007, Willy's house

Willy and Donald J Smith

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Holly Rigsby

Nancy (Warnken) Parsons

Dan C Pawlak Jr

2007, Willy's house

Willy and Donald J Smith

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Holly Rigsby

Nancy (Warnken) Parsons

Dan C Pawlak Jr

2007, Willy's house.

Willy and Donald J Smith

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Holly Rigsby

Nancy (Warnken) Parsons

Dan C Pawlak Jr

Willy and the Band (Donald J Smith - guitar, Frankie Gage-bass, Dan C Pawlak Jr.-drums, Jerry Rose-guitar, Willy Henson-singer and all around great guy and friend. 1961 Photo Courtesy Dan C Pawlak Jr.

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Holly Rigsby

Tracey Hubbuch

Wayne & Margie Walstra

Carrie Felger

Nancy (Warnken) Parsons

Shared a heart

Barbara Montgoery Krieger

Shared a heart

Brandi Mader

My family loved willy like he was family. He will be greatly missed💜

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Carrie Felger

Nancy (Warnken) Parsons

Brandi Mader

Marcia 'Sissy' Trozzy

Holly Rigsby

Carrie Felger

Judith Rebollo

Nancy (Warnken) Parsons

Comments:

Holly Rigsby

The joy just radiates from this picture - he loved you guys so much!!! The joy just radiates from this picture - he loved you guys so much!!! The joy just radiates from this picture - he loved ... Read more

Holly Rigsby

Tobin Matthews will always live on!

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Judith Rebollo

Carrie Felger

Wayne & Margie Walstra

Nancy (Warnken) Parsons

Comments:

Holly Rigsby

Because not everyone is on Facebook... I wanted to share a tribute that was just posted by Calumet City Remembers, a group my Dad belonged to.

This past January 17th, Calumet City lost a  native son.  The world at large knew him as Tobin Matthews, pop star.   But his lifelong friends and family knew him as Willy Henson.

Born in 1940, Willy grew up in Cal City.  He got his start as a  performer while still in high school, forming a band, Willy and the  Rhythm Rockers, and playing dances and clubs around the region.

At age  21 he set off to pursue his musical career full-time, picking up a name  change along the way (which was fairly  common for that time in the business). He enjoyed his biggest success as  a pop star in the early 1960s, and recorded for several labels,  including Columbia and Warner Bros.

Like other pop singers, he toured  the country incessantly, often in package tours with other rising young  stars like Tony Orlando, and performed on various local TV shows.

He certainly didn't lack talent, and there was every reason to expect  he would soon be a million selling star.

Unfortunately, just as he was  on the verge of breaking big, the British Invasion hit America, and the  era of the teen idol disappeared virtually overnight.  Tobin Matthews  became a victim of capricious fate.

But he continued to record  and perform for many years, and he never lost touch with his roots here  in Calumet City.  He was particularly generous in sharing his  recollections with us here at the Park District.

We extend our  deepest sympathies to Willy's family for their loss.  But we hope they  can take some small solace from the fact that Tobin Matthews will always  live on!

Because not everyone is on Facebook... I wanted to share a tribute that was just posted by Calumet City Remembers,... Read more Because not everyone is on Facebook... I wanted to share a tribute that was just posted by Calumet City Remembers, a group my ... Read more Because not everyone is on Facebook... I wanted to ... Read more

Marcia 'Sissy' Trozzy

Me and My Brother

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Carrie Felger

Nancy (Warnken) Parsons

Comments:

Marcia 'Sissy' Trozzy

I have so many fond memories and oh the stories!

When my brother Willy would be done mowing the lawn he ... Read more I have so many fond memories and oh the stories!

When my brother Willy would be done mowing the lawn he would call me and say... Read more I have so many fond memories and oh the stories!

When... Read more

Marcia 'Sissy' Trozzy

The Val Story

I remember when my brother Willy was in love when he was 16 . With a girl called Valarie... Read more The Val Story

I remember when my brother Willy was in love when he was 16 . With a girl called Valarie he called he Val.... Read more The Val Story

I remember when my brother Willy ... Read more

Marcia 'Sissy' Trozzy

The Mashed Potatoes Story  - We were sitting around the table eating dinner my brother Willy was calling ... "Sissy Sissy look at this worm !" My brother Willy was about 12 years old he had a hole in the middle of his front tooth. He would put mashed potatoes in his mouth and push it out the hole of his front tooth it looked like a worm. I would tell my mom to look a my brother Willy. She would tell him to stop with a smile on her face.

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Judith Rebollo

Carrie Felger

Nancy (Warnken) Parsons

Marcia 'Sissy' Trozzy

My brother Willy would always call me on my birthday and sing Happy birthday to me . He loved coming out to our place and fish while sipping a beer he would fish all day. He love eating the fish he caught also.

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Judith Rebollo

Carrie Felger

Nancy (Warnken) Parsons

Comments:

Marcia 'Sissy' Trozzy

When someone was kind to him or treated him good he would give them a CD of his songs. He wasn't bragging... Read more When someone was kind to him or treated him good he would give them a CD of his songs. He wasn't bragging or showing off he ... Read more When someone was kind to him or treated him good he... Read more

Marcia 'Sissy' Trozzy

We talked on the phone at least every other day . We would talk about our Christmas cactus he would tell me how many flowers he had on his so I had to baby my cactus more to get more flowers. We would laugh about that.

My brother Willy Loved his Orioles. He would say ... "Sissy I must have 12 Orioles they don't stop coming. I love watching them they are so beautiful."

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Judith Rebollo

Carrie Felger

Nancy (Warnken) Parsons

Marcia 'Sissy' Trozzy

Me and my brother

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Judith Rebollo

Carrie Felger

Nancy (Warnken) Parsons

Holly Rigsby

Of all the traits I share with my Dad.... this is my favorite one.

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Tracey Hubbuch

Marcia 'Sissy' Trozzy

Judith Rebollo

Carrie Felger

Nancy (Warnken) Parsons

Tracey Hubbuch

2019, Cam's Grad Party

Cherished this day

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Judith Rebollo

Carrie Felger

Comments:

Tracey Hubbuch

I cherished this day. Mike, Jordan and I had many laughs reminiscing with Willy.  The day was beautiful. We sat outside and chatted about his new toy, the Zero Turn Lawnmower. How it took him a couple of hours to mow compared to 1/2  a day and the fact that he did not need a cooler strapped onto the mower because it took half the time but that the cup holder was awesome! We laughed about the scary albums that he and mom used to play for Tammy and me at night.  It was at the house on 1000.  I don't remember much TV watching.  All the lights would be off in the house, Willy would start the album, I believe they were Alfred Hitchcock stories. Tammy and I were sooo scared but yet we looked forward to hearing them (funny how that works).  Willy and I laughed about the giant, huge bonfire we had in the front pasture!  We had been adding sticks and limbs for months and months and months and one day he decided it was time to light it! It was like a pyro fire for sure. Oh, the memories keep pouring in. I am so thankful he was a role model in my life. I know I am who I am because of who he was.

I cherished this day. Mike, Jordan and I had many laughs reminiscing with Willy. The day was beautiful. ... Read more I cherished this day. Mike, Jordan and I had many laughs reminiscing with Willy. The day was beautiful. We sat outside and chatted... Read more I cherished this day. Mike, Jordan and I had many laughs... Read more

Mary Hughes Wood

I remember Willy from high school at TF North class of 1959. I also saw him at class reunions over the years. He certainly was fun & was a great singer. God bless & comfort your family & friends. Mary Hughes Wood

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Holly Rigsby

Marcia 'Sissy' Trozzy

Judith Rebollo

Carrie Felger

Comments:

Holly Rigsby

Thanks for sharing Mary! Do you recall any favorite songs? Thanks for sharing Mary! Do you recall any favorite songs? Thanks for sharing Mary! Do you recall any favorite... Read more

Tod Criswell

I remember many times, as a kid, being at Thanksgiving dinner at the Henson's house.....watching the football games and seeing a kitchen over-flowing with food and laughter. Uncle Willy was always talking about music with someone. The entire house was a treasure trove for music lovers! Every visit there was always a fun one.

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Judith Rebollo

Tracey Hubbuch

Holly Rigsby

Marcia 'Sissy' Trozzy

Carrie Felger

Comments:

Tracey Hubbuch

Love this, Tod! Thanks for sharing. We certainly have some wonderful memories. Love this, Tod! Thanks for sharing. We certainly have some wonderful memories. Love this, Tod! Thanks for sharing. We certainly have... Read more

Holly Rigsby

Oh Tod, How did we fit everyone into that house? I just remember the living room filled up with long tables... Read more Oh Tod, How did we fit everyone into that house? I just remember the living room filled up with long tables and we could barely... Read more Oh Tod, How did we fit everyone into that house? I ... Read more

Holly Rigsby

Dad's backyard

This is one of his favorite places to hang out, kicking back, enjoying nature -notice the binoculars... he so loved his birds, sippin' a beer, just being grateful.

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Judith Rebollo

Tracey Hubbuch

Marcia 'Sissy' Trozzy

Carrie Felger

Nancy (Warnken) Parsons

Comments:

Sue Criswell

We are all blessed for the good time memories at their house. We are all blessed for the good time memories at their house. We are all blessed for the good time memories at their... Read more

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Willy Henson aka Tobin Matthews

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Willy Henson aka Tobin Matthews

Memories & condolences

In lieu of flowers

Want to see more?

Get grief support

Recent contributions

In lieu of flowers

Recent contributions

Recent contributions

Share this memorial website

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