Gail Leroy Bethard

Gail Leroy Bethard was born February 15, 1928 in Raymond Township, near Harvel, Illinois. He passed away on December 11, 2019 at Manor Court in Liberty Village in Clinton at 91 years of age.

Gail attended Raymond High School before moving to the Streator area after graduation.  Gail worked for Commonwealth Edison / Exelon in the Substation Construction Department for over 40 years. 

Gail was active in Sunday school and youth basketball activities at the Calvary Baptist and First Baptist Churches in Streator.  His retirement years included playing guitar and singing in area country/bluegrass jams.  Gail and his wife, Delores, also spent their retirement researching family history, gathering documents and pictures from genealogical sites throughout the Midwest. Gail enjoyed his music, sports (especially the Cardinals and Streator Bulldogs), and spending time with family.

Gail is survived by his sons, Larry (Barbara) Bethard of Clinton and Kevin (Tia) Bethard of Minooka. Grandchildren: Christine Glenn, Bryn (Jeff) Bethard, Karen (Chris) Fries, Ryan (Nikki) Bethard, and Kristine Nickol Voorhees, eight great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Gail was preceded in death by his wife, Delores Irene Briner, and his infant daughter, Karen I. Bethard. Also preceding him in death were his parents, James Wesley Bethard and Nettie Mae Freeman and his siblings, Alcidean (Donald) Boynton, Oral (Mildred) Bethard, Ruby Bethard, Eldon (Bonnie) Bethard, Hazel Puskar, Evelyn (Derl) Johnston, Verlyn (Doris) Bethard and Robert (Roberta) Bethard.

Visitation will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 17 at Winterrowd-Hagi Funeral Home (305 S. Park Street, Streator). Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Streator.

In lieu of flowers memorials should be directed to a charity of the donor’s choice. Suggestions include the American Cancer Society, The American Heart Association or the Streatorland Historical Society.

The family would like to thank the staff and doctors at Liberty Village in Streator and Clinton for their loving care.