IN MEMORIAM: Iron Workers Local 392’s Gary Linn

Gary Bennett Linn, a member of Iron Workers Local 392, passed away peacefully at age 69 on Sept. 15, 2021, at Alton Memorial Hospital with his family by his side.

He was born on April 9, 1952, in Christopher, Ill.. to Gordon and Rosalie (Reed) Linn. After his father’s passing, he was raised by his stepfather, Ronald A. Adams, who also preceded him in death. Gary married J.R. Rose on Aug. 5, 1985, at Little Church of the West in Las Vegas.

He was a 1970 graduate of Wood River High School and attended some college. In 1973, he joined Iron Workers Local 392 as an apprentice and retired in 2004. He was an avid waterfowl hunter who always looked forward to building the duck blind with his buddies. The first day of duck hunting for him each year was like Christmas morning to a kid. He had one particular hunting dog (Callie) who greeted everyone at the duck hunting Check Station each morning where she made sure they all knew and loved her. When the hunters saw Callie make her way into the Check Station, they knew Gary Linn had arrived.

Brother Lynn, of Alton, also enjoyed being on the water fishing, whether it was in a canoe on the creek with his father-in-law, on a river or lake or the deep seas near Panama. His yearly garden overflowed with tomatoes, and you were one of the lucky ones if you received a jar of his “famous” salsa.

In addition to his wife, J.R., he is survived by his mother, Rosalie Adams, of Bethalto, Ill.; three stepchildren and their spouses, Amanda and Rick Neal of Conway, Ark.; Jason Rose, of Peel, Ark., and Candace and Clyde Whiddon, of Greenbrier, Ark.

He is also survived by two sisters, Diana (Bob) Rogers, of St. Peters, Mo., and Debby (Dan) Relling, of Bridgeton, Mo.; three step-grandchildren, Stephanie and Max Sullivan, of Prescott, Ark.; JB Shaw, of San Antonio, Texas; and Addy Rose, of North Little Rock, Ark.; one niece, Melissa Catlin, of O’Fallon, Mo.; as well as many other relatives and more friends than one could count.

There will be no services per his wishes. The family has requested memorials be made to the American Heart Association or the National Kidney Foundation and mailed to Elias, Kallal and Schaaf Funeral Home, 727 E. Bethalto Blvd., Bethalto, IL 62010.