Gary C. Gould, 81, Oak Park, Illinois, devoted husband, loving father and adoring grandfather passed away June 21, 2022, after courageously fighting glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) for 15 months. He was born February 19, 1941, in Rock Island, Illinois and grew up in Chillicothe, Illinois. He ventured west to California and then returned to the Midwest to begin his career with the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad in 1961 but was drafted into the Army and served from 1963-65. He was a military policeman, first stationed at The Presidio in San Francisco, before finishing his service in Vietnam. Upon his return, he resumed working as a structural ironworker for the C&NW which would later become part of Union Pacific Railroad. Over the course of his 54 years, he worked on bridges throughout the Midwest and Plains states, eventually becoming a foreman and ARASA member before retiring in 2015.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Carroll and Helen (Kain) Gould; his in-laws, Raymond and Susan Strebel; sister Jeanette Cox, sister Sandra Grisham, brother-in-law Peter Strebel and brother-in-law Jerry Strebel.
Gary is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Carol Strebel Gould; son, Eric Gould (Cindy), daughter, Monica Luczak (Mark), daughter, Jennifer Zarosl (Matt), son Shawn Gould (Faith); beloved grandchildren, Charlotte and Audrey Gould, Brandon, Connor and Hannah Luczak, Abby, Jessica and Ella Zarosl, Samantha and Jameson Gould; brother Ron (Iris) Gould, brother Dennis (Nancy) Gould, sister Carol Ann Pence, brother Norman (Carol) Gould, and brother Bruce (Diane) Gould; brother-in-law John Strebel, brother-in-law Charles (Judy) Strebel; and fifteen nephews and nine nieces.
An avid do-it-yourselfer, Gary and Carol remodeled their home and helped many family members and friends with their projects. A fan of all Chicago sports teams, Gary could most often be found cheering on the athletic pursuits of his grandchildren. He also enjoyed traveling with his wife to places such as Italy and Hawaii, making regular trips to Cabo San Lucas and Alaska.
Gary was a loyal parishioner of St. Bernardine’s Parish.
Visitation will be Monday, June 27, from 4:00 to 8:00 pm at Woodlawn Funeral Home in Forest Park, Illinois. A funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, June 28, at 11:00 am at St. Bernardine Church, Forest Park, Illinois. Memorial contributions may be made to the Glioblastoma Foundation at Glioblastomafoundation.org.
For those unable to attend the funeral mass for Gary it will be available live at either of the following links:
St. Bernardine Live - YouTube https://youtu.be/tfC09wADH1o
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.woodlawnchicago.com for the Gould family.
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