Name: Marsh Funeral Home
Address: Gurnee, IL

My condolences go out to Gary's family and friends. My prayers are with you all. He was my sister (Carrie Anne)'s father. I remember meeting Gary I'd say about 10 years ago as we all (our mom, Carrie Anne, and her oldest son, Brett) took a trip to Waukegan and met him at Quonset Pizza. He was very kind! He was also my dad (Bud Dickson)'s cribbage partner in the cribbage league they played for back in the day. I will be notifying Carrie Anne of Gary's passing and I'm sure she will be in contact with her grandmother, Ann to send her condolences. Again, my thoughts and prayers are with you all.

GARY HILL EULOGY APRIL 15, 2014

Hi, I'm Ron Hill and I thank you for coming today to help celebrate the life of and say goodbye to my brother, Gary Hill.  We are all pushed and pulled to find our own path thru life; and Gary carved a unique path from an Ironwood hospital on July 2nd 1940 to Marsh's funeral home in Gurnee, IL today.
Gary was born to Harold, a miner, and Anna Hill, in 1940, just as the US was about to be engulfed in World War II.  As you'll see in the photos, Gary from an early age was easy to smile and enjoyed those early days in the Upper Peninsula- a place he always loved.
In April of 1942, Harold, Anna and Gary, along with Anna's step-sister, Bertha her husband Joe, and son Jerry (Anna and Bertha were two of 17 kids in the Hautala-Silvonen family- but that's a story for another time)- the six of them packed their things into Harold's Model T Ford and drove to Butte MT where Harold and Joe found work in the copper mines.  
That October, Harold, Anna and Gary drove back to Ironwood, having traded the Model T for a Chevy, for a visit where Harold found a job in the iron mines.  They stayed in Ironwood and had a daughter, Carol.  
No longer working in a copper mine, Harold lost the draft exemption conferred on copper miners, and was drafted in June of '44 to join the war effort.  Following basic training, Harold arrived in France in December '44.  In January, Harold led a patrol to find the German lines during the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium.  It was snowing heavily and he walked into a German machine gun nest and was shot 3 times.  He died January 15th 1945.  
Gary had lost a father he barely had time know.
Harold's older brother Matt Hill, had been living in NY before the war and served in Africa, Italy, France, Germany, and the Philipines during the war.  Following the war, Matt returned to Ironwood MI and he and Anna met for the first time.  They married in January 1946 and Gary's uncle became his stepfather.  Just recently, we found a 1949 postcard from Matt to Gary- where he signed it- Love Daddy.
Matt and Anna added two children to the family, Leonard Matt in 1947, and myself in 1951.  You'll see from the photos the four of us had a glorious childhood in the north woods- swimming, fishing, and playing in the snow of Ironwood and Hurley.   
During this time Gary made his first successful business endeavor.  We lived on the Gile Flowage just outside of Hurley.  If you know the Flowage, you'll remember a road that divides the main Flowage from a small northeastern section.  In the early evening around sunset, cars lined this road; unloading fisherman to cast for walleye, bass or maybe a muskie.  
Gary saw opportunity.  During the day Gary and his buddies placed a wire about a foot off the bottom 20 to 30 yards from and parallel to the bank.  Many fisherman lost lures, caught by this wire.  The boys would swim out the next morning collect the lures and in the evening set up a table to sell them back to the unsuspecting fisherman.  Gary was pushing the limits- trying to find the angle- even at an early age.
He also had his share of misadventures.  Gary found an old metal canoe in the flowage filled with holes.  He convinced Carol to help him pull it out, drain it and plug the holes with soap.  With the canoe all “fixed”, he put Carol in and pushed off. Oops- the canoe promptly sank.  Fortunately, Grandma Silvonen, as usual, had her eyes on the Grandkids- and pulled them to safety.
In June of '55 the six of us moved to Waukegan IL.  Matt decided our house needed a basement. He placed a telephone pole under the house for support, picked up a shovel and handed one to Gary.  They hand dug the basement that Mom still uses today.
But it was a tough move for Gary.  The transition from a small school to the huge Waukegan HS was difficult.  Gary found a group that I always thought of as “James Dean”- motorcycle boots, leather jackets and slicked back hair.  Gary dropped out of school, got a job in a car wash and found his share of trouble.  I remember answering a knock on the door and a state policeman standing there asking if I knew where Gary was- I didn't- I was only six.  
Shortly thereafter, in November '57 at age 17, Gary enlisted in the Army.  During his first leave home, Mom noticed his cheek was swollen- she thought maybe he had been in a fight.  But it turns out it was a maxillary tumor that Army surgeons removed in June '58.
After a full recovery, Gary served honorably for three years in the Army's 2nd Armored Division- the famous “Hell on Wheels” division of George Patton.  He served in Germany at a time when Elvis had just left and the cold war was heating up.  He claimed he was often mistaken for Elvis in Germany- check out the photo in his uniform and decide for yourself whether this was just a story.  Gary received his honorable discharge from the Army in November 1960.
He returned to Waukegan with his friend Don Braun and they dumped their duffle bags in our closet and headed out to California in Don's car.  Gary finding his path.
After a year and half exploring California it was time to head home.  The car broke down in Arizona and they made it back using their thumbs and a call home for a bit of cash.
Gary found a job driving truck for Pepsi and joined Teamsters local 301.  A good career- good pay and steady work.  
Shortly after getting a steady paycheck, Gary and his friend Jimmy Skoff, both decided to buy baby blue Cadillacs- a '56 and '57.  That summer Gary was supposed to drive us up north, but the Caddy was in the shop after a fender bender.  He borrowed Jimmy's car for the trip and I'm not sure if Mom ever knew we didn't travel in Gary's Caddy.  
Gary's last car was also a Caddy- a fully decked out 1997 DeVille with 17,000 miles when he bought it and all the bells and whistles including a built in car phone.  His nephew Brian is driving this dark blue Caddy today.
With cash in his pocket, Gary showed his generous side.  He bought Mom her first color TV- a 25” RCA that lasted for years, paid for with a roll of twenties.  I could also count on great Christmas presents from Gary- a mini pinball machine with flashing lights and ringing bells was one of my favorites.  He would also always remember his nieces and nephews at birthdays and holidays.  When my daughter Emily got married in North Carolina- he paid for Mom and our sister Carol to fly out for the wedding.
During his time at Pepsi he met Karen Dixon and had a two new stepsons, little Gary and Matthew.  Soon his daughter, Carrie Ann, was born.   The marriage didn't last long and Karen moved to Wisconsin with the kids.  Unfortunately, he lost contact with Carrie Ann after his stroke in 2006 and we have not yet been able to find her.
Gary's next job was driving truck for Skokie Valley Asphalt.  He worked during construction season- usually March to November.  In the winter months he stayed in the Waukegan area tending bar or traveled to Florida or Vegas.  
One winter he embarked on his second business endeavor- he bought a bar in North Chicago.  That Christmas when I was home from school for break, he asked me to check his books and find out why he wasn't making money.  They were a mess.  We talked, and I told him that he had a better chance of making money if he didn't leave a customer in charge of the bar while he left to party with friends.  A short time later he sold the bar.
He worked at Skokie Valley Asphalt until the company was sold.  He retired as a Teamster in 1997.   
During this time he started a second career using that easy smile as a bartender- working at several local bars- Russ's was the last.  He soon met his second wife Carol and moved to Mercer WI to tend bar and help her manage the resort.  But marriage number two didn't survive long either and Gary moved back to Waukegan. 
He resumed tending bar, worked at a convenience store and improved his Cribbage and darts skills.  He met Joanie at Tobies bar.  They lived together for many years and shared two memorable trips to England.  Gary and Joanie eventually moved apart and Gary found his way back to 421 S. Elmwood- the house with the basement he helped dig.  He lived there many years with Mom until health problems forced him into assisted living and a nursing home.
After tending bar for all those years, a lot of people got to know Gary- almost anywhere you go in the Waukegan area, you can find someone who knew him.
In 2005 Gary was diagnosed with Type II diabetes and that started a series of serious medical problems.  In 2006 he suffered a stroke, affecting his left arm and left leg.  He worked hard during his recovery- exercising the affected muscles, determined to walk and use his arm again.  
In 2012 they found a large malignant kidney tumor- which required removal of his kidney.  By late 2013 the cancer had spread to his lungs and brain.  A rapid decline followed and he died this past Saturday.
A generous man with an easy smile- Gary carved a unique path through life.  He'll be missed.
The military honor guard will now play taps and present the flag.

RIP Gary ...remember you from the good old days At Bear Den! ...

I am so sorry for the loss of your loved one. Please know that you are all in my thoughts and prayers. Gary was such kind and gentle soul, and as my very special friend, will always be remembered.

Sandy (Moe) Gibbons

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Gary H. Hill

2 juillet 1940 – 12 avril 2014

Marsh Funeral Home

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