Fred Gustaitis

KEWANEE - Fred Gustaitis, 73, of Kewanee, died at 5:46 p.m., Sunday, August 21, 2016 at the OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home in Peoria.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, August 25 at Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 24 at the funeral home. Cremation will be accorded following the service and private inurnment will be held in Pleasant View Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Fred Gustaitis Memorial Fund.

He was born January 21, 1943 in Rockford, IL, the son of Frank and Mary (Ptasnik) Gustaitis. He married Pauline Anne “Polly” Zonkel on November 22, 1963 at the First Christian Church in Kewanee and she preceded him in death on December 14, 2008. Survivors include a daughter, April Gustaitis of Moline, three brothers, Don (Anita) Gustaitis of Kewanee, David (Berna) Gustaitis of St. Charles, MO and Albert (Della) Gustaitis of Newton, IA, two sisters, Diane Groy (Everett Whitcher) of Kewanee and Josephine Sobotta of Florida, two grandchildren whom he helped raise, James Colie Dugan and Mackenzie Gustaitis and several nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews. He was also preceded in death by his parents, a son, Kurt Gustaitis, two sisters, Berniece Hill and Margaret Stoner and a brother, Frank Gustaitis.

Fred attended Kewanee schools and served his country in the U.S. Navy. He had worked at Galva IME, Hyster’s, Bill’s Electric and as a welder at the Kewanee Boiler Corporation. He was a die-hard Chicago Cubs fan who enjoyed camping, tinkering and the occasional “cookie snack” and was noted for his Donald Duck impersonation.

The family would like to thank the staff, nurses and doctors at the OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home in Peoria for their wonderful care.

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