Gary Garner

Gary Garner, age 88, of Quincy, died on Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 9:45 am in Blessing Hospital. Gary was born on November 22, 1936 in Pleasant Hill, Illinois, a son of Everett Weyland and Thelma Melissa Hoaglin Garner. He was a 1954 graduate of Pleasant Hill High School. He enlisted in the United States Army in January of 1955. Gary served four tours in Vietnam. He spent three years with the 1st Battalion 18th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division "Big Red One", and one year with Military Assistance Command, Vietnam as an Advisor to the Vietnamese Army. Gary was also stationed for three years each in Germany and Hawaii. He retired in January of 1975 as a First Sergeant E-8, at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, after a 20 year career in the Army. Gary was awarded three Bronze Stars, one for valor and two for meritorious service, a Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal, eight Overseas Service Bars (indicating 4 years in combat), the Vietnam Service Medal with nine campaign stars, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 device, the Combat Infantry Badge, the National Defense Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, four Good Conduct Medals, and the Meritorious Service Medal. After his retirement, Gary resided in Clarksville, TN until 1992, when he moved to Quincy. Gary enjoyed organizing drag racing. He loved bass fishing and reading. He was a music aficionado, with a deep love of Jazz music. He had an extensive collection of 1960's and 1970's Jazz on the Blue Note label. He was a member of American Legion Post 37 where he served on the Military Honors Detail and participated in over 600 military funeral rites. Gary saved every obituary from these services. Gary was the Commander of Chapter 138 Military Order of the Purple Heart for many years, and he had served as the chapter's Adjutant since 2008. Gary volunteered many hours at the Illinois Veterans Home and spent hundreds of hours driving residents around the grounds on the Trolley, which was an Old Ford tractor hooked to a trailer built to look like a trolley car. Survivors include a nephew, Roger (Lee Ann) Pepper of Pearl, IL; a niece, Karla Howland of Pearl, IL; his good friend, Bill Rose of Quincy; and numerous grandnieces and grandnephews and great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, and a sister, Reva Pepper, a brother-in-law, Merle Pepper, and a great-grandnephew, Sean Howland-Lockhart. Visitation: 10:00 pm to 11:00 am on Monday, October 6, 2025 at the Hansen-Spear Funeral Home. Service: 11:00 am on Monday, October 6, 2025 at the Hansen-Spear Funeral Home, with Chaplain Jerry Edison officiating. Full Military Honors will be conducted by American Legion Post 37 and the United States Army Funeral Honors Detail at Hansen-Spear Funeral Home, immediately following the service. Burial: Crescent Heights Cemetery, Pleasant Hill, Illinois Memorial donations may be made to the Illinois Veterans Home Activities Fund. Memorial donations may be made online at https://memorials.hansenspear.com/ www.hansenspear.com Hansen-Spear Funeral Directors are in charge of the arrangements.