Gary R. Bartell, 81, of Galena, IL, passed away on Sunday, December 1, 2024, at Midwest Senior Care Center, Galena surrounded by his three daughters. A funeral service will be held at 1 PM, on Saturday, December 14, 2024, at the Furlong Funeral Chapel, Galena, where friends may gather after 11 AM until the time of the service. The burial of the cremated remains will be held at a later date. Gary was born January 29, 1943, in Rockford, IL, the son of Robert and Irene (Murphy) Bartell. He graduated from Harlem High School with the 1961 class, where he played baseball and basketball and ran on the track team. After graduation, he worked for Jewel-Osco for a few years before realizing his passion for teaching. He returned to college to pursue a degree in education to teach history. In 1971, he graduated from Illinois State University and started his first teaching job at the Grayslake School District in Grayslake, IL. At Grayslake, he coached the Grayslake Rams in both basketball and cross-country track. Some of his students and athletes from that time remain his friends today. In 1978, he moved his young family to Galena to take a teaching job at Galena High School, where he would continue his passion, teaching US History, Sociology, Contemporary Issues, and Geography until his retirement in 2008. After retiring, he loved to substitute teach at Lena-Winslow, where his grandkids attended. In addition to his teaching duties, Gary proudly spent years in the gym coaching the Galena Pirates Boys Basketball Team and announcing the Galena Pirates Football Team in the Pirate Press Box, where he coined the phrase, “shipload of Pirates”. Although he loved his titles of “Mr. B.”, “Coach,” and “Voice of the Galena Pirates,” his favorite title was “Dad” to his three girls, and he was so good at it! His patience with us was endless (with one bathroom in a house filled with girls, he had little choice), but he never complained. He was always ready to comfort us, cheer for us, and provide solid advice. Gary was so proud of his community; he served one term as the Mayor of Galena, served on many boards, and volunteered countless years as an EMT, often spending early morning hours on an ambulance call, yet never missing a minute of his school day. Gary is survived by his three daughters, Kris (Bruce) Meekhof of Alto, MI, Jodi (Jeff) Zeal of Lena, IL, and Shannon (Luke) Feldermann of Lisbon, IA; his grandchildren, Spencer, Rachel, Nathan, Jenna, Jake, Olivia and Payton, and two great-grandchildren, Sophie and Carter, and his best friend, Mike Sciutto, bonus family, Kevin Williams, Mark and Amy Miles, and his two brothers, Chuck and Curt Bartell. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Sharon, and his best dog and buddy, Max. We want to thank Midwest Senior Care and Hospice of Dubuque for taking incredible care of our dad. Your kindness and compassion will never be forgotten.