Gary Uhrig and Barbara Wittlich were married in August of 1967. Barb had just graduated from Western Illinois University with an elementary teaching degree. Gary had just been drafted into the U.S. Army. After basic training, Gary was stationed at Fort Monmouth, NJ where Barb and Gary lived the first year of their married life. Gary was then sent to Viet Nam and served a year there while Barb returned home to Belleville.
After Viet Nam, Barb and Gary lived in Belleville on Town Hall Road. They had a son, Robert Michael (Bobby) who was their pride and joy. Gary, Barb, and Bobby made history at Memorial Hospital because Gary was the first father to be in the delivery room for the birth of his child.
Gary had a love of gardening and outdoor activities and turned that into a Landscaping Business while completing his degree at McKendree College in Criminal Justice. He then became a Probation Officer with St. Clair County while Barb taught 3rd grade at Belle Valley in Belleville.
Gary died suddenly of heart arithmia at home on January 12, 1983. There has always been some speculation that his sudden, early death at age 37 might have been due in part by his exposure to Agent Orange while serving in Viet Nam.
He was dearly loved and is always in the hearts of family and friends.
I knew Gary since we were about 3 years old. We went to the same Sunday School at Zion Lutheran in Belleville. We also went to Union Elementary ,Junior High nd High School together. He was a very nice person.and very friendly. He always had a big smile on his face.
When we were in Sunday School I had a crush on him, he never knew .
He has been gone a long time and I know he has been sorely missed.
Gary was one prince of a man and he and Barb were the perfect couple, both such dear, sweet people. His passing was way too soon. Whenever I see Barb, I will fondly remember Gary, and it will bring a tear to my eye! May God be with Barb and her family all the days of their lives!
I knew Gary through Belleville sports, but it wasn't until i read Barb's "Memorial" that I realized that I was in the presence of a "Gentle Hero". When most American's were protesting America's involvment in the Vietnam War, Gary stood tall and answered his country's call to duty. Unfortunately for Gary and many others, his Government did not respond in kind. Instead they used a deadly defoliant (Agent Orange) without regards to the ground forces in Vietnam.
Major Michael Davis O'Donnell wrote a poem after the battle of Dak To in January 1970 that I think applies to all combat veterans who were left behind or died subsequently after the war. Major O'Donnell was later KIA on March 24, 1970 when his helicopter was shot down:
If you are able, save them a place inside of you and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go. Be not ashamed to say you loved them, though yuo may or may not have always. Take what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own. And in the time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those "Gentle Heroes" you left behind.
God bless you Gary and you can rest assured that I will never forget you.
Probably the fondest and craziest memories I have of those High School years revolve around my dear friendship with Barb and Gary and another family friend, Gary Taff (Class of '62), who lived in the same neightborhood as the Uhrigs. Those HS years were blessed with many outings, frequently church related or other get-togethers orchestrated by Barb and I. The visits to see the boys required many miles of bicycling - especially for Barb who lived on the other side of town! We somehow found a reason to travel down the long street by Union School, across Rt 13, and up into that subdivision to scout out the guys! Sometimes tennis at the High School was the first initial plan and then it quickely turned into the jaunt up and down a few hills to Gary's place (which was in a lovely subdivision by a lake). Our exploration with Gary in the lead frequently lead us to hopping on not-too-stable logs which eventually landed us, but ususally Barb, in the lake. Her Mom, Milla, was never happy to see those muddy clothes when Barb biked back home. I will always remember Gary urging Barb to come forward to the log with his out-stretched arm - and a big grin on his face!
May God enjoy your great sense of humor Gary ! Those were the days!!!
Barb Wittlich (Uhrig)
Gary Uhrig and Barbara Wittlich were married in August of 1967. Barb had just graduated from Western Illinois University with an elementary teaching degree. Gary had just been drafted into the U.S. Army. After basic training, Gary was stationed at Fort Monmouth, NJ where Barb and Gary lived the first year of their married life. Gary was then sent to Viet Nam and served a year there while Barb returned home to Belleville.
After Viet Nam, Barb and Gary lived in Belleville on Town Hall Road. They had a son, Robert Michael (Bobby) who was their pride and joy. Gary, Barb, and Bobby made history at Memorial Hospital because Gary was the first father to be in the delivery room for the birth of his child.
Gary had a love of gardening and outdoor activities and turned that into a Landscaping Business while completing his degree at McKendree College in Criminal Justice. He then became a Probation Officer with St. Clair County while Barb taught 3rd grade at Belle Valley in Belleville.
Gary died suddenly of heart arithmia at home on January 12, 1983. There has always been some speculation that his sudden, early death at age 37 might have been due in part by his exposure to Agent Orange while serving in Viet Nam.
He was dearly loved and is always in the hearts of family and friends.
Dianne Jung (Starkey)
I knew Gary since we were about 3 years old. We went to the same Sunday School at Zion Lutheran in Belleville. We also went to Union Elementary ,Junior High nd High School together. He was a very nice person.and very friendly. He always had a big smile on his face.
When we were in Sunday School I had a crush on him, he never knew .
He has been gone a long time and I know he has been sorely missed.
Sandra Virgin (Snyder)
Gary was one prince of a man and he and Barb were the perfect couple, both such dear, sweet people. His passing was way too soon. Whenever I see Barb, I will fondly remember Gary, and it will bring a tear to my eye! May God be with Barb and her family all the days of their lives!
James Zaring
I knew Gary through Belleville sports, but it wasn't until i read Barb's "Memorial" that I realized that I was in the presence of a "Gentle Hero". When most American's were protesting America's involvment in the Vietnam War, Gary stood tall and answered his country's call to duty. Unfortunately for Gary and many others, his Government did not respond in kind. Instead they used a deadly defoliant (Agent Orange) without regards to the ground forces in Vietnam.
Major Michael Davis O'Donnell wrote a poem after the battle of Dak To in January 1970 that I think applies to all combat veterans who were left behind or died subsequently after the war. Major O'Donnell was later KIA on March 24, 1970 when his helicopter was shot down:
If you are able, save them a place inside of you and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go. Be not ashamed to say you loved them, though yuo may or may not have always. Take what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own. And in the time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those "Gentle Heroes" you left behind.
God bless you Gary and you can rest assured that I will never forget you.
Marsha Best (Anderson)
Probably the fondest and craziest memories I have of those High School years revolve around my dear friendship with Barb and Gary and another family friend, Gary Taff (Class of '62), who lived in the same neightborhood as the Uhrigs. Those HS years were blessed with many outings, frequently church related or other get-togethers orchestrated by Barb and I. The visits to see the boys required many miles of bicycling - especially for Barb who lived on the other side of town! We somehow found a reason to travel down the long street by Union School, across Rt 13, and up into that subdivision to scout out the guys! Sometimes tennis at the High School was the first initial plan and then it quickely turned into the jaunt up and down a few hills to Gary's place (which was in a lovely subdivision by a lake). Our exploration with Gary in the lead frequently lead us to hopping on not-too-stable logs which eventually landed us, but ususally Barb, in the lake. Her Mom, Milla, was never happy to see those muddy clothes when Barb biked back home. I will always remember Gary urging Barb to come forward to the log with his out-stretched arm - and a big grin on his face!
May God enjoy your great sense of humor Gary ! Those were the days!!!
Michael Hornacek
Thanks for serving, I salute and RIP Gary!