Charles Robert "Bob" Gleason, Jr., 72 of Fruitland, Idaho, passed away on Monday, August 8, 2022.

Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 1, 2022 at the Hilligoss Shrader Funeral Home, 705 South Main Street, Tuscola, IL with military rites accorded for the US Navy Veteran.

Visitation will begin at 10:30 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday.

Inurnment will be in the Murdock Cemetery, Murdock, IL

Bob Gleason was born on October 7, 1949 in Tuscola, Illinois to Charles Robert and Marjorie Marie (Hardwick) Gleason.  He and his sister, Deborah (Debbie) Marie (Gleason) Smith had an interesting childhood which led him to join the military.

Bob joined the Navy in 1968 as a signalman.  He was a brown water sailor and served 4 tours in Vietnam earning numerous medals.  After serving 4 years on active duty he was recalled to recruiting duty in the reserves.  This finished out his first 8 years in the Navy.  Later he would join the Navy again as a recruiter from 1986 through 1989.

He was married in 1970 to Carol Ann Bluteau, together they had a son Aaron, and a daughter Angela.  He re-married in 1981 to Martha Jane Ferry who had children of her own; sons Jody, Bobby, Bill, and daughter Becky.  Bob and Martha loved each other through thick and thin resulting in a marriage lasting 37 years.

Bob loved cars from the muscle car era, fishing, computers and guns.  He was talented in mechanics, art and music.  As a self-taught mechanic he could work on anything from semis to cars.  As an artist he could draw people, places and things utilizing paints, pencils, watercolors, and even wood burning.  As a musician he could play many different instruments, but his favorite would be the guitar which he also was self-taught.

His dynamic personality and ability to accept people as who they are, allowed him to have friends from all walks of life.  His personality and friendliness gave him the tools to be very successful in sales.  He won almost every award available in Navy recruiting active duty and reserves.  He also won numerous awards while in the car industry.  This ultimately resulted in a successful stint as a computer business owner through the 90's.

Bob's legacy is not necessarily what he did for a living, where he lived, or things he possessed.  His legacy is how he treated his fellow man.  He was not judgmental and gave the shirt off his back, even when he didn't have a shirt to give, to anyone who needed it regardless of circumstance.  His ability to make people laugh, feel welcomed and loved, are the reasons he will be missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, sister and stepson.  Survivors include Aaron Gleason, Angela (Gleason) Mace, Jody (Debbie) Ferry, Bill (Laura) Ferry, Becky (Leo) Silguero, 11 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.

Online condolences may be shared via hilligossshraderfh.com