Gerald Leroy Dobbins, age 85

April 5, 1939 – June 17, 2024

Gerald Leroy Dobbins, age 85, of Wheeler, Illinois, passed away at 12:35 PM – Monday, June 17, 2024, at HSHS St Anthony's Memorial Hospital in Effingham, Illinois.

Funeral services celebrating Gerald's life will be held at 12:00 PM (Noon) on Monday, June 24, 2024, at the Meyer Funeral Home in Newton, Illinois, with Zack Trimble officiating.  The burial will be in the Trexler Cemetery southwest of Newton, Illinois.  Visitation will be held from 10:00 AM until service times.  In loving memory of Gerald, memorials may be made to the Pinehaven Christian Children's Ranch.  The obituary can be viewed, and condolences left www.meyerfh.com.

Gerald was born on April 5, 1939, in the old St Anthony's Memorial Hospital, the son of Royal and Helen (Bragg) Dobbins.  He was the oldest of three children.  He graduated from Newton Community High School with the Class of 1957.

Gerald and Carolyn were united in marriage on December 19, 1959, at Kedron United Methodist Church.  And to this union they were blessed with two children, Geri and Chet.  She preceded him in death on August 27, 2022.

Gerald was a lifelong farmer in Jasper County.  He served his country in the United States Army Reserves.  He was a faithful member of Dieterich Christian Church.

Serving our Lord Jesus Christ was an important priority for Gerald and Carolyn whether it was ministering to motorcyclists in Sturgis, South Dakota; working at Pinehaven Children's Ranch in Montana; helping with construction and disciplining among the indigenous in Boquete, Panama, visiting the persecuted in Chiapas, Mexico, serving at Dieterich Christian Church or wherever an opportunity arose.  Praise God for his leading.

Gerald is survived by:

Children - Geri (Tony) Brooks or Newton, Illinois and Chet (Wendy) Dobbins of Wheeler, Illinois.

They have been blessed with five grandchildren: Marcus Brooks, Kelsey (Ryan) Taylor, Tori, Sydney and Ellie Dobbins

4 great-granddaughters: Emma Brooks, Ada, Elise and Kate Taylor

Brother - Dennis (Jeanne) Dobbins of Wheeler, Illinois

Sister- Joyce Stockwell of Wheeler, Illinois

Brother-in-law – Jim Stroud of Lerna, Illinois

Sister-in-law – Sharon Farris of Dieterich, Illinois

Gerald was preceded in death by his parents, brother-in-law Larry Stockwell, father and mother-in-law Virgil and Ruth Jones; and granddaughter-in-law Buffy Brooks.