Barbola Funeral Chapel

Gary L. McGrath

Gary Lee McGrath, age 74, of Berlin, died peacefully at home on Thursday, February 2, 2023.

He was born June 13, 1948, in Belvidere, IL, the son of Robert “Dan” and Shirley Patton McGrath. Gary spent most of his youth living in Beloit and was a 1966 graduate of Beloit Memorial High School. He was drafted and served in the U.S. Army for six years. After dating since they were 16 years old in high school, on August 19, 1967, he was united in marriage to Rose Eichman at Central Christian Church in Beloit. Rose and Gary had met when they were children, around eight or nine years old, playing on the same playground, not knowing they would eventually marry and be together for 56 years.

Gary worked in the Engineering Department for the City of Beloit and for Wisconsin Power & Light before he and Rose moved their family to Berlin to take positions there for WPL, now Alliant Energy, over forty years ago Gary worked many jobs at WPL, including the Gas Dept., trench operator, laborer, line equipment operator, but when he became an Apprentice Line Clearance Tech, he knew that was the position he really wanted. From there he moved up to Full Line Clearance Tech with Alliant Energy, which he retired from in May 2008 after 41 years. During that time, he served as Union Steward, where he was always fair and just when it came to the employees’ rights. If you had seen Gary climb trees as he worked you would have been amazed. It was almost as if he was a monkey going from limb to limb and some of the trees were huge and very high!

Gary was a true outdoorsman. He especially loved going up north to fish, hunt and see all the friends that he had made throughout the years. He enjoyed all nature activities, but most precious to him was spending time with his children and grandchildren, watching all their sports activities throughout the years. He would say, “Those were the fun days.”. During his illness, he would get frustrated that he couldn’t go ice fishing and would often remark how the weather was just right to be out on the lake. Gary was a wonderful gardener and his gardens were a sight to behold, never any weeds and the produce was the best around. He was a member of Grace English Lutheran Church in Berlin.

He is survived by his wife, Rose; three children, Michelle (John) Klawitter, Mathew (Regina) McGrath and Mark McGrath; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; sister, Lynn Elliott; and numerous nieces and nephews. Gary was preceded in death by his mother; stepfather; and two brothers.

A gathering of family and friends will be held on Tuesday, February 7, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at Barbola Funeral Chapel in Berlin. Memorial services will be held at 6:00 p.m., at Barbola Funeral Chapel, Rev. Rebekah Tarras officiating. Military honors will be performed by Wells-Krause VFW Post #2925 at the chapel at 4:30 p.m. Memorials may be directed to Berlin Conservation Club and WI Public Radio. Anyone wishing to send a sympathy card to the family, please mail to Gary McGrath, c/o Barbola Funeral Chapel, PO Box 201, Berlin, WI 54923.