Gary C. Naumann

TONICA — Gary C. Naumann, 77, of Tonica passed away on Thursday, March 28, 2013, at Heritage Manor in Peru.

Gary was born March 11, 1936, in Peru to Chauncey and Elsie (Johnson) Naumann. He married Jeanne Spear on Jan. 13, 1957, in Varna. They celebrated 56 years of marriage this year.

He graduated from Hopkins Township High School, Class of 1954. Gary farmed most of his life. After retiring he drove a school bus and worked for the state of Illinois and Wal-Mart.

Gary was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Peru. He was a member of Granville Rotary and was a Paul Harris Fellow. Gary was a shriner and hauled the fire truck for the parades and has been an active member since 1985. He was a board member for McNabb Telephone Company for 47 years. He was a Sunday school teacher and a Luther League sponsor. Gary was on the Marshall-Putnam Fair Board, Victoria Palms Community Church Board and served as precinct committeeman for Granville 1 for 25 years.

He is survived by his wife, Jeanne Naumann of rural Tonica; one son, Carl (Debbie) Naumann of Standard; two daughters, Jane (Rick) Smith of Eldridge, Iowa, and Jill Matchus (David Mikell) of Louisville, Neb.; one son-in-law, Mike Hegland; one brother, Robert (Jackie) Naumann; three sisters, Virginia (Richard) Gansemer, Nancy (Don) Brandstatter and Alice Gibson; and seven grandchildren, Mitchell Smith, Christopher Naumann, Matthew Naumann, Zackary Hegland, Arianna Hegland, Kurt Etzenbach and Ellen Etzenbach.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Julie Hegland; and two grandsons, Kyle and Michael Matchus.

Services will be at 11 a.m. April 2 at St. John Lutheran Church, Peru, with the Rev. Timothy Kenyon officiating. Burial will be at Friends Cemetery, McNabb.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. April 1 at the Dysart-Cofoid Funeral Chapel, Granville. There will be an additional visitation from 10 to 11 a.m. April 2 at the church.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be directed to St. John’s Lutheran Church in Peru, Victoria Palms Community Church in south Texas or Shriners Hospital for Children in Chicago.

Pallbearers will be Mitchell Smith, Rick Smith, David Mikell, Christopher Naumann, Matthew Naumann, Zachary Hegland, Arianna Hegland, Kurt Etzenbach and Ellen Etzenbach.