Gary F. Anderson

Gary Franklin Anderson, 81, of Hampton passed away Friday, January 2, 2026 at Silvis Center Nursing and Rehab.

A memorial visitation will be 5:00 -7:00 pm on Friday, January 16, 2026 at Schroder Mortuary in Silvis. Memorials may be made to Kings Harvest Pet Rescue.

Gary was born on July 9, 1944 in Moline, IL the son of William “Billy” and Lois M. (Montgomery) Anderson. He grew up near the banks of the Rock River, where he made countless memories with his lifelong buddies. Gary married Mary Baum on February 27, 1965 in Moline, IL. She preceded him in death on February 18, 2024.

Gary worked at Farmall in Rock Island for two years before becoming an apprentice millwright at International Harvester, where he was a proud member of UAW Local 1304. He went on to retire from there in 1996.

Gary embraced the gearhead and hot rod lifestyle, and even had the opportunity to race at Cordova Dragway. Much of his competitive career centered on boat racing, where he competed at the national level for more than 11 years in the Stock, Modified, and Pro/Alky Outboard categories. He also enjoyed intermediate gunsmithing, woodworking, crafting custom lamps, and automotive repair.

An avid outdoorsman, Gary loved gardening, mushroom hunting, waterfowl hunting, fishing, camping, and cross country skiing. He also enjoyed country western dancing with his wife through the M.V. Country Dance Association and was a devoted fan of the Quad City Mallards, Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears. He cherished attending his grandchildren’s events and supporting them in all they did.

Survivors include his daughters, Billie Sue (Brad) Burklund and Randie (Jeff) Anderson; grandchildren Brennen Burklund, Baylee Burklund, and Adam “Addy” Anderson; sisters Cathy (Jay) VanDeVoorde and Cindy (Andrew) Hansen, and brother-in-law Steve Schroder.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, his infant daughter, Jill Marie; and his sister, Debbie Schroder.