Gale Oliver, 89, of Pittsfield passed away Friday, January 15, 2010 at Illini Community Hospital in Pittsfield.  He was born April 21, 1920 in Mattoon, IL a son of Edward and Viola True Oliver.  He married Imogene Reed on August 26, 1944 in the home of her grandparents in Calhoun County. They celebrated sixty five years of marriage in August of 2009.

Gale was an auto mechanic and has worked at Green Chevrolet in Jacksonville, Zimmerman Brothers and Barton Oldsmobile in Pittsfield, International Harvester, and Harrison Implement.  In earlier year’s he was a partner with Lavon Hobbs at Oliver & Hobbs Plymouth and retired from King Mill in Pittsfield.  He was a WWII Army veteran serving in the 27^th Combat Regiment.

Gail attended the Calvary Baptist Church, was a member of the Pittsfield Fire Department for forty-three years, member of the Pittsfield American Legion Post #152, and the Pittsfield Police Association.  He enjoyed woodworking, especially furniture, crafts, making clocks, shelves, painting and drawing.

His wife, Imogene, and one son, Dennis (Lori) Oliver of Quincy, one grandson Kory Oliver and four step grandchildren, Johnny, Kyle, Nick and Rachel Bocke, survive him.  One sister, Opal Schlemmer of Pittsfield, one niece, Julie Schwarz of Raytown, Mo, one great niece and one  great nephew also survive.  He was preceded in death by a brother, Donald, two sisters, Eleanor and Genevieve and step grandson Mark Bocke.

Services will be held on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 2 p.m. at the Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield with Rev. Bill Herald officiating.  Visitation will be held Tuesday evening, January 19 from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Niebur Funeral Home. Interment will be at the Pittsfield West Cemetery with military rites being accorded by the Pittsfield American Legion Post #152. 

Family requests that memorials be made to the Calvary Baptist Church, Pittsfield Fire Department or the Pittsfield West Cemetery.

Condolences may be sent to the family at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield is handling the arrangements.