Gary R. Linscheid

Gary was the youngest of five boys. Being raised on nearly 40 acres led to a childhood filled with lots of animals: cows, cats, dogs, and 10,000 chickens! Family memories were made while pheasant and deer hunting, fishing on the Elkhorn Creek, shooting turkeys with a toy arrow, and getting chased by red wing blackbirds. Gary played football for his entire high school career…Go Milledgeville Missiles! He graduated in 1984 and moved to Loves Park to live with his two brothers and begin his career at Woodward. He attended the Irl C. Martin Academy of Industrial Science and graduated in 1986. A year later, Gary decided to look for a local church instead of going home to his parents‘. He found the church…and the girl. He and Michelle Lahre were married on July 8,1989 in Rockford. They have four children, Kendal, Kassie, Kinzie and Ethan.

Gary enjoyed fishing, hunting, working on his 1969 Chevy Camaro, and spending time with his family. He had a quiet personality and dry sense of humor. He was full of wisdom and great insight. He could fix anything! He was the family mechanic, financial advisor, and so much more.

He was a loving and supportive husband and father. He supported Michelle in her piano teaching, recitals, music ministries, and her many projects. He and Michelle enjoyed fishing, vacations to Florida, NASCAR races, going for drives, walks with Boone, the family dog, and watching high school basketball.

Gary was active in his children’s lives, attending nearly every sporting event, school concert, tournament, bike race, running race and more. He and the family shared many vacations fishing at the lake. There was time spent hunting, riding go karts, taking boat rides, going to the park, shooting spud guns, and blowing up things like barbie houses.

Gary was an active church member, serving in the teen department, singing in the choir and various music groups for over 25 years, playing harmonica, and being coaxed into uncomfortable acting and dancing roles. He was responsible for building the pinewood derby finish line and operating it for many years. He enjoyed helping his children, as well as nieces and nephews, build fast derby cars.

He was a faithful employee of Woodward. During his employment, he continued his education and received an Associate Degree from Rock Valley College in 1998 and continued to work nearly 39 years for the company. His last held position was that of Lead Mechanical Designer.

Our family won’t be the same; our customary Sunday lunches will be missing one. Yet we have comfort in knowing we will see him one day in Heaven!

Gary is loved and missed by his wife, Michelle; children, Kendal (Brianna) Linscheid, Kassie (Nicholas) Nicchitta, Kinzie (Jay) Kors and Ethan Linscheid; family dog, Boone; mother, Cheryl Linscheid; brothers, Brad Linscheid and Greg (Lori) Linscheid; numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Clayton and brothers, Jeff Linscheid and Bobby John Linscheid.

A visitation will be held from 9:00-11:00 a.m, Monday, June 5, 2023 at Sunset Funeral Home with a funeral service to begin at 11:00 a.m. Entombment in Sunset Memorial Gardens. To share a condolence, please visit www.sunsetfhgardens.com.