Dave grew up in Decatur, IL and attended St. Paul’s Lutheran School, Woodrow Wilson Junior High School and Decatur High School where he graduated as a senior with the class of 1955. He was always tremendously proud of the accomplishments of his high school classmates. He not only maintained lifelong connections with friends in every school he attended, he also stayed in touch with more than thirty children who grew up in his west-end neighborhood in Decatur. Once you became Dave Gendry’s friend, you were his friend forever. After high school, Dave earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business from Millikin University. While at Millikin, he joined Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and he worked for a few years in the mail room at the Herald and Review newspaper. He later worked in sales and advertising/sales promotion for Aetna Casualty and Surety Insurance Co., Aid Association for Lutherans Insurance Co. (now named “Thrivent”) and Krause Publications in Iola, WI. He decided to make a major career change and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education at Illinois State University. He spent the last several years of his career teaching junior high school art. His favorite job, by far, was teaching art at the junior high school in Taylorville, IL. Dave was a very active volunteer in his community. He so much wanted Decatur, IL and Millikin University to thrive. In the past, he served on the Board of the Good Samaritan Inn, was a member of the Millikin University Alumni Board and, more recently, was a member of the Millikin Decatur Symphony Orchestra Guild. He supported the activities of the Decatur Area Arts Council and participated in local art shows. In addition, much of his volunteerism centered around church sponsored activities including singing in the choir, serving on the church council at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Decatur, IL, working at the AMELCA food pantry and delivering Meals on Wheels.
For the complete obituary, visit
https://memorials.brintlingerandearl.com/Gendry-David/5167208/
