Birth date: Sep 21, 1944 Death date: Jan 22, 2019
Gary L. Halberstadt, age 74 of Gainesville, passed away Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at his home. He was born September 21, 1944 in Urbana, Illinois to Ralph C. and Ullman B. Hinners Halberstadt. He proudly served his country in the Read Obituary
Missing you, Daddy. Peace comes from knowing that you are in heaven. Dinner was lonely without your smile. I love you.
To my ex-husband of 25 years and my "Buddy" of 50 you are gone but will never be forgotten.
Gary graduated from Urbana High School, Urbana, Illinois, Class of 1962. He was co-captain of our high school football team our senior year (our football season of Fall, 1961). Gary was respected by all who knew him, and each of his friends has a private "Gary story" from grade school, middle school or high school that many of us have shared with each other over the years.
Gary did not come back to any of our high school reunions, but when he came back to Urbana in early 2017 for his sister's funeral, he came to Po'Boys, a local Urbana restaurant owned by one of our classmates, Jim Rasner. I was at Po'Boys that evening with another classmate, Steve Frantz, when Steve recognized Gary. We went over to his table to greet him (after 55 years) and had a warm and lengthy conversation.
Most of the guys who were seniors in the Spring of 1962 and who played golf on our high school golf team that final high school semester, and some guys who were not on the golf team, have gathered together since 2013 to play golf in May for 3 or 4 days. In 2017, we were going to gather in Venice, Florida, where one of our classmates, Bob Veeder, lives. I invited Gary to join us (even though he did not play golf) and spend 4 days with fellow classmates (most of having played on our High School Football team with Gary). Gary gave me his cell number, and I passed it on to Bob Hanes, and Bob contacted Gary to give him details about the May outing in Venice and convince Gary to join us. Gary drove over from Gainesville to Venice for the 4-day visit, and to a person, we were all blessed with the fellowship of those four days.
Our golf group, Bob Hanes (Houston, TX), Joe Williamson (Orlando, FL), Bob Vedder (Venice, FL), Mike Marshall (Destin/Ft. Walton Beach, FL), Steve Frantz (Decatur, IL), Jim Seward (Black Mountain, NC), Jim Harnsberger (LeRoy, IL), Ed Keller, (Ft. Myers), Lonnie Judy (Champaign, IL), Chuck Price (Wilmette, IL), and Gary Gladding, Dave Crouse and me, Bill Goldstein (Champaign-Urbana, IL) all send our deepest condolences to Gary's family and friends.
We honor Gary's memory by thanking him for his service to our Country, for his devotion to his family, and for his friendship that was not diminished by 55 years of separation. Gary, God bless you and rest in peace.
Bill Goldstein, UHS, Class of '62
