GERRY E. RATHBUN

Mr. Gerry E. Rathbun, age 72, of Maywood, Mo., went to be with the Lord May 4, 2018 at Blessing Hospital in Quincy, IL.

He was born November 3, 1945 in Quincy, IL a son of Ira Emmett and Shirley Maude Funkenbusch Rathbun. He married Joyce Elaine Gamm on July 20, 1968 at the Durham Baptist Church in Durham, Mo. She survives.

Gerry grew up on the farm where he lived and started as a dairy farmer at a very early age. He continued to farm throughout his life and enjoyed raising a garden. He was a graduate of Ewing High School class of 1963. Gerry worked at the La Grange Foundry for 37 years. He was a Navy veteran of the Vietnam War where he served in the VO-67 squadron. Gerry loved to hunt and fish and he passed this love on to his sons and grandkids. He was a member of the Durham Baptist Church where he was a member of the men’s Sunday school class and had also worked as a teacher in the youth department early in his life. He was a lifelong supporter of the Durham Community Center Association and the Durham Cemetery Association. Gerry was an avid softball and baseball player during his life and enjoyed playing softball well into adulthood. He especially enjoyed bird watching particularly hummingbirds, eagles, geese and ducks.

Survivors include his wife, Joyce Elaine Rathbun of Maywood; three sons, Glenn Evan (Kimberly) Rathbun of Rosendale, MO, Roger Aaron (Michele) Rathbun of Huntsville, AL and Robert Eric (Barbara Jean) Rathbun of Maywood, MO; nine grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Kelsey and Garek of Rosendale, Elise, Hannah, Cole, Meghan, Jacob and Jonathan of Huntsville; sister, Mary Sue Catron of Maywood; mother in law, Viola Gamm of Ewing; sister in laws, Deborah (John) Scott of Jefferson City, MO and Loretta Feldkamp of Maywood and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister and brother in law Sharon (Thomas) Coffman, father in law Grover Gamm and brothers in law Bryan Feldkamp and Arthur Catron Jr..

Funeral services were held May 8, 2018 at the Durham Baptist Church in Durham with Rev. John Moore and Rev. Arthur Griffin officiating. Pallbearers: Glenn Evan Rathbun, Roger Aaron Rathbun, Robert Eric Rathbun, Cole Rathbun, Kevin Catron and Todd Catron

Honorary Pallbearers: John Scott, Kaitlyn Rathbun, Kelsey Rathbun, Garek Rathbun, Elise Cady-Rathbun, Hannah Rathbun, Meghan Rathbun, Jacob Rathbun and Jonathan Rathbun

Music: Evelyn Scifres, Organist; Scott Dehner, Vocalist, “It is well with my soul” “When the roll is called up yonder” (congregational song) “In the Garden”and "Lord’s Prayer"

Visitation was held May 7, 2018 at the Durham Baptist Church

Burial with military honors will be in Durham Cemetery.

The family suggests memorials be made to the Durham Baptist Church, Durham Cemetery Association or to the Wounded Warriors Project.

Online condolences may be left at www.davis-fh.com