Fulton, IL - Gerald D. Hoese, 90, of Fulton, Illinois, died Sunday, March 1, 2026, at MercyOne Medical Center in Clinton, Iowa.

Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, March 6, 2026, at the Fulton Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home. His Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Fulton, with Rev. Father Timothy Barr officiating. Interment will be at Calvary Hill Cemetery in Fulton. A memorial has been established.

Gerald was born September 9, 1935, in Fulton, Illinois, to Arthur G. and Viola E. (Sullivan) Hoese. He was educated in the Fulton grade schools and was a 1953 graduate of Fulton High School. He also attended Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois. Gerald proudly served his country in the United States Army. On May 2, 1964, he married Jeanne C. Drazkowski in Fulton, beginning a marriage that would span more than six decades. He was employed as a supervisor at Chemplex and later at American Xyrofin in Thomson, Illinois, where he dedicated many years of service before retiring. Gerald was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, and held lifetime memberships with the Fulton American Legion Post #402 and the Eagles Club in Clinton. In his spare time, he bartended at Johnnie's Tap in Fulton, where he enjoyed visiting with friends. He found great satisfaction in woodworking, often creating special crafts for his family, and he enjoyed bowling in local leagues as well as playing both fast pitch and slow pitch softball. He was a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan and an avid shuffleboard player. Above all, Gerald treasured time spent with his family and the many friendships he formed throughout the years.

Survivors include his wife, Jeanne; one daughter, Libby (Rob) Letcher of Schaumburg, Illinois; five sons, Dean (Cristi) Dykstra of Salt Lake City, UT; T.J. Hoese of Fulton, Illinois; Jeremy Hoese of Clinton, Iowa; Dennis (Sarah) Hoese of Evans, Georgia and Jeffrey Hoese of Fulton, Illinois; nine grandchildren; one great-granddaughter.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four sisters, Beverly J. Hoese, Barbara Hoese, Mary O'Meara and Rosalind Burden-Pittenger; two brothers, Robert Hoese and Lawrence Hoese.

To send online condolences go to www.bosmarenkes.com