Gary R. Finch, Sr.

Gary R. Finch, Sr., of Preemption, Ill., passed away Tuesday April 16, 2019 at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf, Iowa.

A memorial visitation and celebration of Gary’s life will be 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday April 22, at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, 201 E. 4th Ave., Milan, Ill. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (as he believed no child should go through cancer) or to the family.

Gary was born in Macomb, Ill., on January 4, 1939 to Kenneth and Hallie Finch of Roseville, Ill.

He was raised on a farm and started first grade in a one room schoolhouse. As a boy he loved to hunt, fish and trap.

He graduated high school in 1956 and Black Hawk College and later Western Illinois University in Macomb.

He worked for John Deere Plow Planter as a supervisor for 35 years. He was able to retire at the age of 53.

He married Mary Anne Armstrong of Monmouth, Ill., on October 30, 1959. They would celebrate 60 years together in October. She was the love of his life, he felt he was put on this earth to take care, love and cherish her. He did just that till the day he died.

They had four children, Mary Elizabeth, Gary Jr., Sean and Timothy. His children had the same love and attention; he loved them so much and was proud of their accomplishments.

He started running in 1980 and was a member of the Corn Belt Running Club.  The pinnacle was the Boston Marathon in 1993. His family was there to enjoy his accomplishments.

2003, Gary opened “Preemption Taxidermy. He was an accomplished taxidermist and did work for many people, including the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Gander Mountain.

His philosophy in life was if a man could do it, he could, you just have to try. He succeeded in everything he tried. His biggest challenge was Timothy’s black bear.

He had six grandchildren, Steph, Josh, Owen, Oliver, Reese and Jude; with Jude he had his second name Raymond in it. He was blessed to have his name go on as he was the last Finch in the family.

His wife and him always said their life and love was “Never Enough Time”, so they put the initials of N.E.T. on things they loved.

His favorite saying was “God never let us down yet”, and another was “Just You and Me”.

The family would like to thank the nurses at Trinity West, Clarissa Cook Hospice and Dr. Costas Constantinou and staff of Davenport for the excellent care.

We could never have done this without the help and love from our sons; especially Sean who was the main one to take him to Iowa City and Davenport for chemo and arranged all his doctor appointments.

He was preceded in death by his baby; parents; sister Janice of Roseville and his brother Don.

Those left to honor his memory are his grandchildren; sons and daughters-in-law, Gary Jr. and Janette, Sean and Angela and Timothy and Kimberly; and most of all his Mary.

“Death does not extinguish the light. It puts out the lamp because the dawn comes.”

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