Clyde Dewey Gabbard, Jr.

Dewey Gabbard's craftsmanship in life showed in his work and in his family. He was quiet, simple of heart, always looking for the good in others, and would never give up. "Job well done." Clyde Dewey Gabbard Jr. age 71 of Chadwick, Illinois passed on to eternal life January 7, 2014 at home with his wife by his side, surrounded by his sons and daughters. A Funeral Mass will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, January 11, 2014 at the Frank-Law-Jones Funeral Home Mt. Carroll, Illinois with Father Gregory Drahman of Mary Immaculate Catholic Church, Omaha, Nebraska as Celebrant. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Mt. Carroll, followed by a luncheon at the family home near Fairhaven. Visitation will be held from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Friday, January 10, 2014 at the funeral home with a Rosary Service will be held at 7:00 p.m.
Dewey was born June 9, 1942, the son of Clyde Dewey Sr. and Margaret Jean (Snodgrass) Gabbard in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Dewey served in the US Army from 1960 - 1963 in Germany. On July 10, 1971, Dewey married the love of his life, Barbara Vruble at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Rock Island, Illinois. They have celebrated forty-two years of marriage. He worked as a Pipefitter Welder for Plumbers Pipefitters Local #25 of Rock Island for forty-three years until he retired.


Most of all, Dewey cherished the time he spent with his family. He also enjoyed everything about the outdoors from fishing, to hunting, and gardening. He took pride in participating in Civil War Re-enactments attaining the rank of Colonel, and crafted many of the canons that were used in the battlefield. He was a member of the Albany American Legion, Post #1079 and the Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War.
Dewey will be dearly missed by his wife, Barbara of Chadwick; six sons, Matthew (Elizabeth) Gabbard of Thomson, Illinois, Michael (Amanda) Gabbard of Morrison, Illinois, Anthony Gabbard of Morrison, Paul (Jennifer) Gabbard of Milledgeville, Illinois, Joseph (Brittney) Gabbard of Milledgeville, Thomas (Erika) Gabbard of Milledgeville; five daughters, Anna (Matthew) Fournelle of Rochester, Minnesota, Theresa (Chris) Sanders of Axis, Alabama, Rita Gabbard of Tampico, Illinois, Maria (Timothy) Stroup of Sterling, Illinois, Bridget Gabbard of Chadwick; thirty-one grandchildren; two brothers, John (Pat) Gabbard of Manchester, England and David Gabbard of Kansas City, Missouri; and one sister, Karma (Dean) Feldman of Berwyn, Illinois. Dewey is preceded in death by his father, his mother, a step-father, William Deininger; two grandsons in infancy, Xavier Thomas and Benjamin Xavier Gabbard; and a sister, Sue White.