Born August 26, 1952 in Peoria to Jack and Betty (Fernandez) Griswold, he married Anne Bell Blair in 1979. She died March 29, 2023 in Pekin. He was also preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Jack Griswold and Dennis Griswold.
Surviving are two sons, Tony (Sarah Menard) Griswold and Troy (Kim) Griswold, both of Pekin; three grandchildren, Emma Griswold of Tremont, Khloe Griswold of Pekin and CJ Sarver of Dixon; two sisters, Barbara (Bob) Cambridge of Tucson, Arizona and Terry Sue Patterson of St. Louis, Missouri; one brother, Delmar Griswold of Tucson, Arizona and several nieces and nephews.
Gary attended Chillicothe High School and joined the United States Army in 1971 and was honorably discharged in 1977. He then attended Cotton Ball Vocational Technical School in Arkansas for sheet metal fabrication.
He later went to Truck Driving School in Chicago and was an over the road and regional truck driver for many years. He last worked for ADM Trucking, Inc. as a tanker truck driver.
Gary loved the open road and driving tractor trailers and was an avid motorsports fan.
A hardworking husband and dad, Gary loved spending time with his family when he wasn’t on the road. He especially loved his time with his grandchildren.
His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday, November 27, 2023 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. Pastor Kim Bacon will officiate. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Military rites will be provided by the United States Army and Tazewell Military Rites Team. Burial will be at Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin.
Memorial contributions may be given to St. Jude Children’s research Hospital, Midwest Affiliate, 530 Northeast Glen Oak Avenue, Peoria, Illinois 61637.
To express condolences online, www.preston-hanley.com
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