Richard Gubser
Jerseyville |
JERSEYVILLE - Richard H. "Dick" Gubser, 87, passed away, Friday, March 15, 2024 in the Intensive Care Unit at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri.
He was born in a St. Louis hospital, the only child of Herbert W. and Doris M. (Voorhees) Gubser.
He graduated in 1954 from Jersey Community High School, and in 1956 enlisted with the United States Army, serving his country for three years, of which 18 months were spent serving in Korea. Upon his honorable discharge, he enrolled in Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago.
While attending Blackburn College in Carlinville, he met Helen Novak, and the two married on October 24, 1959 in Chicago, Illinois. They soon took up residence in Jerseyville, and he became the 3rd generation to be employed in the Gubser Funeral Home and Furniture Store. He then spent the next 40 years as a funeral director and embalmer, becoming the sole proprietor in 1974, and later purchased the Hanks Funeral Home in Hardin, Brussels and Pearl in 1985.
Community organizations in which he was involved include the Illinois Funeral Directors Association, Jerseyville Jaycees, Jerseyville Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, serving a their Past President, First Presbyterian Church, where he had served as a Trustee, JCBS Ambassadors, and was named Junior Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year in 1963.
As a member of Westlake Country Club in Jerseyville, he became an avid golfer and ping pong player. In his retirement he enjoyed traveling to many foreign and American destinations. At the age of 60, he became a skier, and enjoyed 22 years of skiing with his children and grandchildren. The highlight of this last year was taking an Honors Flight to Washington, DC with fellow veterans, and let us not forget how he loved to whistle.
Surviving are his wife Helen Novak Gubser of Jerseyville; sons, Bradley Scott Gubser (Jayne White) of Broadview Heights, Ohio, Steven Blake Gubser (Ann Mathis) of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Julie Gail Gubser Noe (Ty) of Loveland, Ohio; five grandchildren, Ashley Katherine Gubser (Brandi Burns) of Santa Rosa, California, Cayley Michelle Gubser (Kelley Riedy) of Denver, Colorado, Jackson Walter Noe, Ryan Gerald Noe, and Bella Kristina Noe all of Loveland, Ohio; and two great granddaughters, Roxie and Rowan Gubser.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville.
Visitation will continue on Thursday from 10 a.m, until time of funeral services at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Jerseyville. Dan Dresher and David Evans will officiate.
He will be laid to rest in Oak Grove Cemetery in Jerseyville, with the Jerseyville American Legion Post 492 conducting military honors.
Memorials may be given to the First Presbyterian Church in Jerseyville or the Jerseyville Public Library.
Crawford Funeral Home
