Obituaries

Jeffrey W. Gain, Sr.

August 21st, 1939 – May 26th, 2022

Jeffrey W. Gain, age 82, of Hardin, IL, died May 26, 2022, at St Luke’s Hospital in Chesterfield, MO, with his children at his side. He was born August 21, 1939 in Rushville, IL, the son of Leslie W Gain and Vergil R (Everman) Gain. He married Judith Shaw of Appleton, WI and they had daughters Ann Gain (Gregory Swanson) of Appleton, WI and Gretchen Gain (Kim Hamalainen) of Chicago, IL. He later married Antoinette Mann of St. Louis, MO and they had a son Jeffrey W Gain II of St Louis, MO. All survive.

Also surviving are his 4 grandchildren, Kai and Marta Swanson and Tucker and Dashiel
Hamalainen, as well as his brother Joel L. Gain.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother Allen E. Gain.

Jeff grew up in Rushville, IL. He worked at the family business Gain Greenhouse alongside his
dad and uncle Ernest Gain. He graduated from Rushville High School in 1957 and the University of Illinois in 1961. He joined the U.S. Coast Guard in 1962 where he served 3 ½ years. He served as county manager for several county Farm Bureaus then later as director of marketing for the Illinois Farm Bureau. He next became executive director of the American Soybean Association and then chief executive officer of the National Corn Growers Association before retiring to his farm and some consulting works in Calhoun County, IL. He was active with the McCully Heritage Project, serving on the board for many years.

Jeff had a love for growing all things (he had the “Gain Green Thumb”), animals (especially
Duffy his beloved canine companion), good conversation, starting the day with breakfast with
friends and telling jokes. He only liked two kinds of pie, hot pie and cold pie.

Cremation rites have been accorded. There will be no visitation. Graveside services will be held on Saturday, July 9, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. in the Astoria Cemetery, Astoria, IL. Reverend Robert Greene will officiate. Military rites will be provided by the Astoria American Legion Post #25. Memorials may be made to Guiding Eyes for the Blind, 611 Granite Springs Road, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 or to McCully Heritage Project, 592 Crawford Creek Road, Kampsville, IL 62053.

A celebration of Jeff’s life will be held at Illinois Riverdock Restaurant in Hardin, IL on July 10, 2022, from 12 p.m.-3 p.m.

Condolences

June 13th, 2022

Thinking of each of you with love and sincere sympathy. Jeff will be missed by all of us. He was my favorite letter writer, with his projects & special articles of interest. Love, Sarah

June 14th, 2022

Our sincerest condolences to the Gain family on Jeff's passing. He and I worked together in the early 80s at the American Soybean Association. I always enjoyed our conversations no matter the setting. Sincerely, Hugh and Linda Arnold Whaley.

June 14th, 2022

Deepest sympathies on your loss. I figured I worked for Jeff about 15 years at ASA and NCGA. Dave and Karen Drennan.

June 14th, 2022

Sorry for your loss. Enjoyed working with Jeff back in the Farm Bureau days as well as NCGA for many years. John & Terri Campen

June 14th, 2022

Sorry for your loss. I worked for Jeff at the Illinois Farm Bureau.

Dan Zwicker

June 15th, 2022

I worked with Jeff at NCGA; he was always an inspiration to me and helped me in my career. Condolences to his family.

June 15th, 2022

I'm very sadden to learn od Jeff's passing. My sincere sympathy to his family and friends. I worked with Jeff at the soybean association. He was a kind man.
Donna Gonzalez

June 15th, 2022

I knew Jeff from working with him at the American Doybean assoc.what I liked most about him was his soft style of speaking weather one on one or infront of a large group .Don and Marian Williams

June 15th, 2022

So sorry for your loss. It was a great pleasure to work with Jeff at ASA.

June 15th, 2022

Very sorry to have this sad news. Jeff Gain and I first met as neighbors in 1970 and we worked together at the Illinois Farm Bureau. Condolences and Prayers to Jeff’s family and many friends.
Larry Groce

June 16th, 2022

Prayers for all of Jeff’s family. Jeff hired me at the Illinois Farm Bureau back in 1971. Worked for him for several years and continued a work relationship through his years at ASA and NCGA. He was a great guy and will be missed.

July 8th, 2022

Dear ones, Thinking of you always and especially on this day of Jeff’s service and burial. Sarah, Michael & Family

October 11th, 2022

My deepest sympathy in your loss. Jeff was a wonderful person, a true leader of farmers in America. I consider it a privilege to be a friend of such an outstanding person. He will be greatly missed. Patricia Halle