Dr. Edgar Gaskill

CHARLESTON, IL – Dr. EdgarGaskill, age 75 of Charleston and formerly of Effingham, was released from hissuffering on Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at Hilltop Skilled Nursing and RehabCenter.  Funeral Services honoring andcelebrating his life will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 20, 2013 atAdams Funeral Chapel in Charleston with Reverend Walter Carlson and ReverendJoy Starwalt officiating.  Visitationwill be held on Sunday from 1:00 p.m. until service time.  Burial will be on Monday, January 21, 2013 at1:00 p.m. at the Farnsworth (Mt. Zion) Cemetery in Wayne County near Keenes,Illinois.  It is requested that in lieuof flowers memorial gifts in his honor be made to the Wesley United MethodistChurch or to Harbor Lights Hospice.  Giftsmay be left on the memorial table at the visitation or service, or mailed toAdams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Drive, Charleston, IL 61920. 

Edgar was born on January 29,1937 in Keenes, Illinois the son of the late Allen and Georgia Gaskill.  He married Mary Lou Carrico in November of1967 in Harrisburg, Illinois.  He issurvived by Mary Lou, his wife of forty-five years; a sister, Edna Pfaff ofKeenes, Illinois; two nieces, Karen Pfaff of Ocean Springs, Mississippi andNancy Greenwalt and husband Brad of Keenes; a nephew, Allen Pfaff and wifeElaine of Keenes; and two great-nephews. 

Ed was a 1953 graduate ofWayne City High School.  He furthered hiseducation at SIU Carbondale and later transferred to the University of Illinoiswhere he attained his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1957.  He taught at Newman High School while workingtoward his Masters of Science Degree at the University of Illinois, which heattained in 1961.  He taught at BismarckHigh School before accepting a position with the Kansas School District withwhich he had a long-time relationship. He began his tenure as a high school teacher and later became principalof Kansas High School.  In 1968 Mr.Gaskill was awarded a Specialist in Education from Eastern Illinois Universityand left Kansas to pursue a Doctorate Study at Illinois State University.  During this time he served as principal atLincoln Junior High School and his Degree of Doctor of Education was conferredin 1970.  Dr. Gaskill then returned toKansas in 1971 as Superintendent of Kansas Community Unit 3, a position he helduntil 1983.  During this time Dr.Gaskill's community involvement included the Kansas Lions Club where he servedas club president for one term and he also attended the Kansas Christian Church.  Ed also assisted his father on the familyfarm when time allowed. 

Dr. Gaskill was employed bythe Farmers Home Administration in their Charleston, Shelbyville andCarlinville offices and then returned to education, serving as superintendentat Rossville and Reddick Schools.  Hethen went to East Moline Elementary School District and served as businessmanager, a position he held until his retirement in 1997. 

In 1997 Ed made his home atLake Sara in Effingham where volunteer work became his purpose and hispassion.  He volunteered as a readingteacher for adults and assisted with income tax filing.  He volunteered through the Senior Center as a"Rules of the Road" teacher and assisted the elderly with money management.  The past several years were spent assistingthe elderly with insurance problems and helping to write state grants for lowincome individuals.  Ed has been honoredas Volunteer of the Year at both a state and local level. 

Ed was a member of WesleyUnited Methodist Church in Charleston and the Retired TeachersAssociation.  In August of 2012, he relocatedto Charleston so that Mary Lou could assist him as he underwent surgeries andcancer treatment.  His health continuedto decline and the hospital and nursing home became his residence for the lastmonth of his life. "times new roman";mso-ansi-language:en-us;mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa">  

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