Donald Bruce Gass

DONALD BRUCE GASS, 78 of Arthur, IL passed away at 10:42 P.M. on Friday, March 6, 2026, at Willow Breeze Hospice House in Mattoon, IL.

Bruce was born on February 3, 1948, in Mattoon, IL, a son of Donald Jerome and Mildred Inez (Edwards) Gass. He married Rosalyn Sue (Craig) Fidler on December 19, 1987, in Arthur, IL.

He is survived by his wife Sue Gass; two children, Alana James and her husband Jerry of Centerville, OH, and Bradley Gass and his wife Debbie of Tuscola, IL; three brothers, Jerome Gass, Steve Gass, and David Gass, a niece, Alicia Regan, and a nephew J.W. Gass. Bruce is also survived by Sue’s extended family: Donna and Tim, Dianne and Monte and Doug. Brian and Kimi, Jason and Sarah, Denver and Dustin and Brodie and Emily. Ellie, Lucile, Gracelynn and Lynnin.

Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Sam Gass, a sister-in-law, Patty Gass and two nephews, Travis and Daniel Gass.

Bruce graduated from Windsor High School in 1966, He was drafted into the United States Army in 1967. Bruce served in the D/Co/1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment 4th Infantry (Ivy) Division during the Vietnam War. He was awarded Combat Infantrymen’s Badge, 2 Purple Hearts, an Army Commendation Medal with V, an Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.

After Bruce was Honorably discharged from the United States Army he worked at Firestone in Decatur, IL for a short time before accepting a position as a welder at Caterpillar in Decatur, IL. A position he held for 30 years, retiring in 2000.

After he retired from Caterpillar, he reconnected with members of the 22nd Regiment of the 4th Infantry (IVY) Division. Where he made many good friends.

Bruce was a member of the Windsor American Legion and the Arthur/Lovington VFW. He served as a member of the Honor Guard at Camp Butler National Cemetery in Springfield, IL, he was a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantrymen’s Association, the National 4th Infantry (IVY) Division Association where received the Ralph E. Lingert Service Award and served as Past President. He was also a member of the 22nd Infantry Regiment Society, Vietnam Veterans of America, and he regularly contributed to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Texas, and the Vietnam Veterans National Memorial in Angel Fire, New Mexico.

For the past 18 years Bruce and his wife Sue have been managing the National 4th Infantry Division Association on Facebook. A group that has grown to more than 3,300 members.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at the Edwards Funeral Home, 221 East Main Street in Arcola, IL. Military Funeral Honors will be held at Camp Butler National Cemetery in Springfield, IL at 2:00 P.M. on Monday, March 30, 2026, and Bruce’s remains will be placed in an above-ground columbarium niche at Camp Butler National Cemetery.

Memorial may be made to the Angel Fire Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park, Angel Fire, NM 87710, the Windsor American Legion Post #725, Windsor, IL 61957, the National 4th Infantry Division Association, c/o Don Kelby, Exec. Dir. P.O. Box1914, St. Peters, MO 63376-0035 or to the donor’s choice.