Freeport – Gary D. Kirkpatrick, 80, of Freeport died at St. Joseph's Ascension Living Center on November 10, 2022.  He was born to parents Gerald Kirkpatrick and Mary (Hawes) Kirkpatrick in Sterling, Illinois on March 23, 1942

Gary grew up in Freeport and graduated from Freeport High School in 1960.  He played football for Freeport and was the right guard for 1959 State Championship team. Freeport High School's record that year was 8-1-0 and they were rated number one in the state.  Sports Illustrated called them the best team in the country.  Gary attended college at the University of Wisconsin–Platteville.  Gary's love for sports continued after college and he coached Little League and Junior Tackle.  He also volunteered as EMT for the Freeport Rural Ambulance. Gary lived in Freeport until the mid-1980s when he moved to Shawano, Wisconsin where he worked for Reinhart Foods as a sales manager selling restaurant equipment and designing kitchens.  He retired from Reinhart Foods in October of 2006.  He moved back to Freeport in December of 2017.

Gary loved his four daughters and grandchildren more than anything.  Spending time with them was his favorite thing.  Gary also had a love for fishing and went on several fishing trips to Canada, Northern Wisconsin and Minnesota with his friends over the years.  He often told stories of his adventures fishing with Bill Gerloff and Terry "TC" Corman.  In 2013, Gary went on what he referred to as a "trip of a lifetime", a fishing trip to Alaska with life-long friends Hank Fortney, Gary "Butch" Wagner, and Fred Bess. The four of them also took a fishing trip to Maine in 2015.  Gary was an avid Chicago Bears and Chicago Cubs fan, always proudly displaying his Chicago teams outside his home in Wisconsin.  He never missed the opportunity to tease his Wisconsin friends when Chicago came out ahead. His favorite neighbor and friends Mike & Judy Rosenberg helped paint a giant G in his side yard one year as payback one year.  Long known for his sense of humor, Gary always had joke and loved making people laugh.  Gary recently attended his 60 ^th class reunion and enjoyed joking and reminiscing with his classmates and friends.

Gary leaves behind his daughters Kim Kirkpatrick of Freeport, Kelly (Chad) Gallagher of Freeport, Jaime Kirkpatrick of New Richmond, WI and Lisa (Jim) Kirkpatrick of New Richmond, WI; his grandchildren Keegan Gallagher, Christian Kirkpatrick, Parker Kirkpatrick, Jackson Kirkpatrick and Destinee Reed; his brother Jon (Pat) Kirkpatrick of Acworth, GA and several beloved cousins, nieces and nephews.

Gary was preceded in death his parents and his brother Gregg Kirkpatrick.

There will be a visitation on Friday, November 18, 2022 beginning at 10:00 am at Walker Mortuary.  A service will immediately follow at 11:30am also at Walker Mortuary.  His final resting place will be at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Freeport.

Condolences can be left for the family at www.walkermortuary.com . Cremation rites have been accorded.  A memorial has been established in his name for the American Stroke Association.