Gordon Gary Gebhart Obituary (1933 - 2017)

Gordon Gary Gebhart died peacefully at Fair Havens Christian Village on November 5, 2017 in Decatur Illinois at the age of 84. Gordon Gary Gebhart was born June 14, 1933 and raised in Decatur, Illinois. His education included Mundelein Seminary in Chicago, a Bachelors degree from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, and a Masters degree in Psychology from University of Kansas at Lawrence, Kansas. In 1957, he married Sharon Freischlag. He served in the U.S. Army in Fort Benning, Georgia and then returned to Decatur. Gary and Sharon welcomed three children to their lives, and raised their children with the children of Garys siblings. The cousins always enjoyed time with Uncle Gary. Gary entered his fathers automotive business after college and enjoyed a long and fruitful career in the automotive parts industry. He worked for Gebharts Auto Supply Stores in Illinois before moving to St. Louis to work for Ameron, a subsidiary of Kelly-Springfield. Later he relocated the family to California, and went into business for himself. Gary had a keen knowledge of distribution and sales of carbonators, alternators, and starters and managed a productive resale warehouse business in Los Angeles for several decades. Gary was a gourmet cook and enjoyed spending weekends with the family cooking from his many cookbooks; his cassoulet was a family favorite. Gary spoke Greek and Latin and taught his children and grandchildren phrases that continue to be useful in their lives. A voracious reader, Gary was knowledgeable of history, and enjoyed reading political history, as well as historical fiction of all kinds, mysteries, and spy thrillers. Gary experienced the exquisite torture of being a Los Angeles Dodger fan. In his retirement, he enjoyed British TV and watched many British series in his vast British DVD collection, sharing with his family such classics as Call the Midwife and Judge John Deed. Preceding him in death were his parents Gordon Wayne and Helen Nemeyer Gebhart of Decatur, Illinois, and his youngest sister Carol Gebhart Treece of Austin, Texas. He is survived by his sister Suzanne Gebhart Reeder, his ex-wife and good friend Sharon Freischlag Gebhart, his children Rebecca Gebhart (John Brauer), Elizabeth Gebhart Zirbel (Joseph Zirbel) and Gordon Gerald Gebhart (Pam Ater Gebhart), nine grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and eight nieces and nephews. The family will hold a private memorial. The family would like to thank Fair Havens Christian Village for their care. Dawson & Wikoff Funeral Directors is assisting the family.