Pastor Brian Kenneth Gegel, 63, of Campbell Hill, IL; born on October 22, 1957 in Sparta, IL; passed away surrounded by loved ones on Saturday, April 10, 2021 at the Randolph County Care Center in Sparta, IL.
Pastor Brian grew up working on the family farm in Baldwin, IL, graduated from Sparta High School, and received a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Illinois. He was united in marriage with his high school sweetheart, Jane, on May 24, 1980. Brian worked as a Research Chemist and Senior Scientist at Dow AgroSciences in Midland, MI and Indianapolis, IN for twenty-nine years before retiring early to earn a Master of Divinity from Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. He preached the word of God at Vista and LeSueur Lutheran Churches in New Richland, MN. In 2019, Brian returned to his hometown region and recently began a call to ministry at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Campbell Hill, IL.
Brian was an active member of the many church communities he was a part of, serving as church president, singing with the choir, and particularly enjoying his involvement with the children and youth groups. Brian was happiest when he was outdoors. You could often find Brian in his yard pulling weeds and tending to his garden. He was an accomplished amateur artist and painter. Brian was a model of hard work and dedication, creativity and goofiness, selfless love and steadiness. He loved his large family more than anything, and was always expanding this circle with “darn-near” nieces, nephews, sisters, and brothers.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Jane (Wehrheim) Gegel; his father, Kenneth Gegel, and his father- and mother-in-law, Pete and Fern Wehrheim.
Brian is survived by his mother, Eunice (Brewer) Gegel of Baldwin, IL; two children, Jessica (Jon Markl) Gegel of Traverse City, MI and Josh Gegel of Minneapolis, MN; two brothers, Stan Gegel of Baldwin, IL and Mike (Tammy) Gegel of Wapakoneta, OH; brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and -nephews, and many other relatives and friends.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Luke Lutheran Church in Campbell Hill, Caring Bridge, and Hospice of Southern Illinois.
Condolences to the family may be expressed at <http://www.heilschuessler.com>www.heilschuessler.com.
Visitation: Friends and family may attend St. Luke Lutheran Church in Campbell Hill, IL on Friday, April 16, 2021 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturday, April 17, 2021 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. A selection of Brian’s artwork will be on display during the visitation on Friday at his home next to the church, and visitors are encouraged to peruse and enjoy the collection. The family kindly requests that guests wear a mask inside the church and parsonage.
Funeral: Services will be held at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Campbell Hill, IL on Saturday, April 17, 2021 at 11 a.m. with The Rev. Dr. S. John Roth, Bishop officiating. Due to limited seating in the church, the service will also be available to listen to in the church parking lot and streaming from the St. Luke Facebook page.
Interment: Burial will be held at Baldwin Cemetery in Baldwin, IL at a later date.
Heil-Schuessler & Sinn Funeral Home in Sparta, IL is in charge of arrangements