Francis Gaumer

Date of Birth

Aug 11,1919

Date of Death

May 11,2010

NAME FRANCIS "BUD" E. GAUMER Sr.,age 90, of Kaneville, passed away at Delnor Community Hospital, Geneva, Tuesday, May 11, 2010. BORN: He was born August 1, 1919 in Annawan, IL, the son of Hobart and Bertha (Cryer) Gaumer. EARLY YEARS:Bud spent his early years in Annawan on the family farm but moved to Geneseo at age thirteen when his father passed away. Typical of his time, Bud only attended school until the eighth grade but possessed a mind as quick as a calculator and as sharp as a two-edged sword. Bud found work at the age of sixteen in the local coal mines. His time spent in the dangerous depths helped to forge his hardened work ethic and steel determination to not only survive but to succeed despite his hardships. MILITARY: Bud enlisted into the United States Army and faithfully served his country during WWII becoming one of the thousands to arrive on the second day of the Normandy invasion. Later he braved the Battle of the Bulge and came home a man who had seen the worst of humanity. Following his discharge, Bud came home to a new day and with the hope of a new love. MARRIAGE: He met Martha Kirchman in 1943 and by the time he came home in 1945, their relationship blossomed into marriage on October 19th of that same year. RESIDENTIAL HISTORY: For a time they made their home in Bellwood, Melrose Park and Maywood until 1951 when they moved back to Bud’s home town of Geneseo. In 1956 they moved to Kaneville where, except for a brief period in West Chicago, they made their home for twenty-five years. OCCUPATION / WORK HISTORY:Bud worked at John Deere in Moline for five years before beginning at Western Electric in Montgomery, now Lucent Technologies. He retired after twenty-five years in 1981. No matter where he worked on a full time basis, he always helped on neighboring farms giving release to his love of the land. MEMBERSHIPS: He was a member of the VFW in Batavia as well as a faithful member of St. Gall Catholic Church in Elburn. LIFE NOTES: Bud was a farmer at heart, but when he couldn’t tend the fields, he tended his garden with a passion. The other passions that shared space in his heart including the Chicago Bears, Chicago White Sox and NASCAR, especially #5, Mark Martin. Bud also loved to play the odds by scratching his instant lotto tickets and waiting for a big win. In his younger years he worked as a pin setter at the local bowling alley. The booming crashes echoed long after he stopped setting when began bowling himself on local leagues. The biggest love of his life was his three great-grandchildren, affectionately known as "Ugly", "Knucklehead", and "Squirty". SURVIVORS: He is survived by one daughter, June (Tom) Roberts of Maple Park, IL;One grandson, Tim (Michaeline) Roberts of Bartlett, IL, Three great-grandchildren:Trisha Roberts of Maple Park, Denise Roberts of Bartlett and Jason Roberts of Bartlett;Several cousins including Arden Hoowerfer of Geneseo, IL, and a family of friends. PRECEDED:He is preceded in death by his parents, wife Martha, and one son Frank Gaumer Jr. VISITATION / FUNERAL Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m., Friday, May 14, 2010 at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St. Elburn, IL 60119. A funeral to celebrate his life will be held Saturday, May 15, also at the funeral home, at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at S.S. Peter & Paul Cemetery, Virgil, IL. MEMORIAL A memorial has been established in his name to benefit his favorite charities. Checks may be made to the "Bud Gaumer Memorial" and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119. Tributes may also be forwarded to the same address or on the web at www.conleycare.com.

Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m., Friday, May 14, 2010 at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St. Elburn, IL 60119. A funeral to celebrate his life will be held Saturday, May 15, also at the funeral home, at 11 a.m.

Interment will follow at S.S. Peter & Paul Cemetery, Virgil, IL.

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