1951
2021
Chase, Gary L. Galesburg, MI Gary Louis Peter Chase was welcomed into Heaven on Monday, December 20, 2021. He passed peacefully at his home in Galesburg after battling end-stage renal failure. He was born September 17, 1951 in Dearborn, the son of Stanley Jr. and Flora (Ratiu) Chase. Gary attended Our Lady of Grace, St. Mary's school, Hackett HS (Class of 69) & graduated from WMU in 1975 with a BA in Marketing. He worked at Gull Lake Country Club to pay his way through Hackett. While attending WMU, Gary worked for Meijer where he met the love of his life Joy (aka Joyful Ann Honey) Merrill. Gary was hired in 1978 by the U.S. Postal Service. He worked as an LSM operator, expeditor and express driver until his retirement in 2013. He made lifelong friends everywhere he went. In his spare time, he enjoyed hunting (aka playing poker with his deer hunting buddies), fishing, traveling with Joy, doing yardwork and swimming at the MN house, winning cornhole, transporting vehicles for Ford, playing Santa Claus at the annual Merrill Christmas parties, animal rescue, cheering for the Wolverines, Lions, and Tigers and volunteering at West MI Cancer Center. Gary had a wonderful sense of humor and a smile and joke for all of us. He looked forward to Sunday family dinners followed by lively board games. He loved hosting 4th of July parties (where there were some close calls with the fireworks but no lost digits), going on family vacations up-north to Onaway and siblings weekends and dinners. Family was always his top priority. On October 27, 1973 at St. Margaret Catholic Church, he married Joy Merrill, who survives. Also surviving are his daughters Molly, Katie, Anna, and Jenna all of Kalamazoo; sister Amy Chase; brothers Jeff, Michael and Rob (Kami) Chase; brothers and sisters-in-law Tim (Sharon) Merrill, Sally (Dan) Perrin, Cheryl (Rick) VanderVeen, Jeanne (Kevin) Lewis, Tammy (Bob) Bailey, Linda Merrill, and Nyla Merrill along with many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Ricky; mother and father-in-law Richard and Bernice Merrill, and brothers-in-law Rick and Pat Merrill. According to Gary's wishes, cremation has taken place. Friends may meet with Gary's family from 5-8pm on Friday, January 7 at the Winkel Funeral Home, Otsego. A memorial mass will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, January 8 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Kalamazoo. The family would like to thank Gary's medical team including DaVita Dialysis, Drs. George Adam and Jim & Jack Hunt. Please smile and think of Gary every time you hear a Bob Seger song or shoot a rubber band at someone. Contributions in memory of Gary may be made to the Ronald McDonald House. Messages of condolence may be posted at WinkelFuneralHome.com.
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Sponsored by The Family.
Joy and Family, I'm so sorry to hear about Gary. Always the trickster, he inherited that sense of humor from both of his parents, my Aunt Flay and Uncle Jerry. He will be missed. Sending love and prayers, cousin Marna
Marna Owen
Family
January 13, 2022
Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this most difficult time.
Cliff and Pam Cunningham
Friend
January 6, 2022
I am so sorry for your loss. I know how much you will miss your dear husband and dad! I feel so honored to have known Gary for many years, he was always so much fun to be around and always made me feel so good! I am praying for all of you as you get used to life apart. Gary and I had some good spiritual talks and I am confident he is with Jesus because his faith and trust trust was in Him.
Dawn Asma
December 29, 2021
My heartfelt sympathies to Joy, Molly, Katie, Anna and Jenna and all of the Chase and Merrill families. Gary loved his family. He was a neighborhood big brother to us growing up and I always enjoyed talking to him at Meijer throughout the years. I pray for comfort and peace for the family.
Barbara DeCoe
Friend
December 24, 2021
Farewell to a fine man and good friend to all. Our time with Gary was always a grin and full of his pesky tricks. He always put others' needs first. Thank you, Gary for making our days a little brighter.
Scott and Mary (Bednarz) Aldrich
Scott Aldrich
December 23, 2021
This is a beautiful tribute to Gary - So very sorry to learn of his passing. Sending our condolences to his family.
Fellow 1969 classmates,
Teresita & Mack Long
Teresita Cárdenas Long
Friend
December 23, 2021
Joy, so sorry to see Gary passed away. Which Ronald McDonald House. We've stayed at the one in Ann Arbor when my son was sick. I pray you will be able to enjoy Christmas day.
Rinde
Rinde Walker (Treptow)
December 23, 2021
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