Dave Gottwald

     This memorial website was created to remember Dave Gottwald who was born in East Peoria, llinois on October 13, 1933 and passed away on May 12, 2009 at the age of 75. He will live forever in our memories and hearts.

     David Loren Gottwald, 75, of Peoria, passed away at 11:12 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12, 2009, at Heartland of Peoria Care Facility.

     He was born in East Peoria as Paul Eugene Fuller on October 13, 1933, a son of Ellen Gertrude Sampson and Otto Paul Fuller. Esther Kruse and William H. Gottwald adopted him in Peoria in 1935. His parents and his maternal grandmother, Frieda Gebauer Kruse (his nana), raised him with much love and devotion. His parents, birth parents and one brother-in-law, Glen McMorris of Peoria, who was married to Tandra Tollensdorf, preceded him in death.

     Dave married Marilyn Jean McMorris on June 29, 1957 in Peoria. She survives, along with his son, Paul (wife Donna Barry) Gottwald of Peoria; daughter, Diane Gottwald of Peoria; granddaughters, Sarah and Allison Gottwald of Peoria; aunts, Cordelia Howe of Peoria and Georgene Sampson Hammond of East Peoria; sister, Shirley Fuller (husband Jim) Neal of Havana; best friend and fellow classic car enthusiast, Charles Moffitt of Peoria; sisters-in-law, Shirley (husband Charles) Herring of East Peoria, Laurie (husband Al) Sloan of Green Valley and Valerie (husband Eugene) Stamper of Washington; and two brothers-in-law, Walter (wife Diane Burgess) McMorris of Kansas City, MO and Martin (wife Pamela Baker) McMorris of Calhan, CO; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

     He served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955, where he was a member of the Signal Corps, specializing in microwave transmission technology.

     Dave retired from Caterpillar Inc. in 1997, where he was a photo technician. He was a self-taught mechanical engineer, who delighted in fixing everything and anything for his family and friends.

     Dave’s hobbies included metal detecting, studying and collecting photos and drawings of riverboats; genealogy; taking both big and small trips; and he loved going to classic car shows, sometimes taking photos of the cars for the Central Illinois Cruisers Car Club.

     In honor of Dave, members of the Central Illinois Cruisers Car Club are encouraged to bring their antique and collectible vehicles to the visitation and funeral Mass.

     He was a member of the Peoria Area Treasure Hunters Metal Detecting Club. He enjoyed attending their monthly meetings and searching for and collecting Civil War bullets at Glen Oak and Detweiller Parks in Peoria.

     Dave’s travels took him both near and far. He enjoyed his small trips to Chicago, to take a boat ride or visit a museum, or to Illinois State Parks, to take the family on a picnic, just as much as his big trips to Ireland and Rome.

     His greatest enjoyment came from spending time with his family; grandchildren; best friend, Charlie; and cats, Misty (“Baby”) and Sissy. Dave spent six days in the hospital and missed his prize cat, Misty (“Baby”). Marilyn snuck her into the hospital, so Dave could see her for the last time. He will be remembered as a loving cat owner, parent and grandparent.

     Dave was a parishioner of St. Philomena Catholic Church, 3300 N. Twelve Oaks Drive in Peoria, where his funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 18, 2009, with Fr. Donald R. Henderson as celebrant. Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 17, 2009, at Clary Funeral Home, 1625 W. Candletree Drive in Peoria, with recitation of the Rosary at 5 p.m.

     Serving as casket bearers will be Eric Stamper, Jeff Stamper, Andy Burks, David Downing, Matt Downing and Mark Downing.

     Cremation rites will be accorded after the Mass and interment of the cremated remains will be held at a later date.

     Memorial contributions may be made in Dave’s memory to St. Philomena Catholic Church in Peoria.