Gary L. Michael (78) of Salem
Published on October 19 2020 6:34 pm
Gary L. Michael, age 78, of Salem, Illinois, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 14, 2020 in Springfield, Illinois.
A celebration of life service for Gary Michael will be held at Christ’s Church in Effingham on Friday, October 30 at 10:00 a.m. with Shannon Bopp officiating. Burial will take place at Phillips Cemetery in Kinmundy, Illinois with military rites. Services are in the care of Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham, Illinois. Memorials may be made in loving memory of Gary to Oil Belt Christian Service Camp in Flora, Illinois. Online condolences may be shared by clicking here.
Gary was born on October 16, 1941 to James C. Michael and Ruby (Russell) Michael of Iuka. He married Judy Ann (Lane) Michael on April 21, 1968 in Kinmundy, Illinois. She preceded him in death on August 4, 2014. Gary proudly served in the United States Navy as a frogman. He then worked for World Color Press in Salem, and finished his working years with Deep Rock Energy Corporation in 2017. Gary was a faithful member of Brown Christian Church in Kinmundy. Along with raising his children, Gary enjoyed spending time farming, working in his yard, and sharing stories of his lifetime’s worth of adventures. Gary loved spending time with his family and took pride in his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a loving and dedicated husband, father, and grandfather and will be dearly missed.
Gary is survived by his son: Jeff Michael and wife Michelle Michael of Effingham, daughter Marcy Jimenez and husband Tony Jimenez of Texas; twelve grandchildren: Anthony Michael and wife McKenzie, Josey Charlton and husband Drew, Travis Michael and wife Tegan, Tony Jimenez Jr., Whitney Hughes and husband Evan, Levi Michael, Collin Fitzwater and fiancée, Kacie, Jantzen Michael, Isaiah Michael, Isabella Jimenez, Isaac Jimenez, and Malachi Michael; seven great-grandchildren: Emerald Charlton, Athena Michael, Beckham Hughes, Sunny Charlton, Björn Michael, Beau Hughes, and June Charlton; and siblings, Donna Jones, Marla Southers, and Kenneth Michael.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Judy Ann Michael, his brother Charles Michael, and his parents.