Gordon L. Vickrey

KEWANEE – Gordon L. Vickrey, 82, of Kewanee, died at 5:10 p.m., Friday, October 2, 2020 at OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home in Peoria.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, October 8 at Zion Lutheran Church in Kewanee. Rev. Mara Ahles-Iverson and Linnea Gustafson will officiate. Visitation will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 7 at Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee. Burial will be in Pleasant View Cemetery where military rites will be accorded by the Kewanee Veterans Council. Memorials may be directed to Zion Lutheran Church. The funeral home will monitor capacity limits to maintain compliance with COVID regulations. The funeral home requires all guests wear a mask for the safety of all those attending and due to the restrictions seating for the funeral will be limited.

He was born August 9, 1938 in Princeton 1956. He married Sandy Johnson, his wife of almost 60 years, on October 9, 1960 in Princeton. Survivors include his wife of Kewanee, his five children; Sheila (Clark) Blair of Kewanee, Brian (Jayne) Vickrey of Naperville, Susan (Kirk) Fristad of Peoria, Sarah (Dan) Titlow and Douglas (Jennifer) Vickrey, both of Kewanee, sister-in-law Barb Gross, brother-in-law Mike Hult, sixteen grandchildren, fifteen great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Donald Vickrey and Inez (Danielson) Ackland, his sister, Marlene Hult and a great grandchild.

Gordon graduated from Princeton High School and was proud to serve his country in the U.S. Navy from 1956-59. He worked in grocery management from 1956-1993 for Piggly Wiggly and Eagle Foods. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church where he served on various committees and the church council. Gordon was an active member of the Kewanee Elks Lodge serving for 36 years in which he earned numerous awards including: past Elk of the Year and past Officer of the Year as well as holding several positions such as: ER/President in 1990, Treasurer for 10 years, and past Lodge National Veterans Chairman for 15 years. He was a 35-year member of the Kiwanis Club of Kewanee where he served as President in 1991, Lt. Governor in 1995 and was club secretary for 25 years; he served 10 years on the Kewanee Schools Foundation; he was also a member of the American Legion Post #31 and the Kewanee Veterans Council. Gordon loved to volunteer which led him to assist at the Kewanee Food Pantry and drive a van for Kewanee Hospital.

His greatest accomplishment was his family, and he thoroughly enjoyed spending time with them and his friends. He loved to attend the events of his grandchildren and great grandchildren, and when they would visit, they never left without a treat from Grandpa.

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