Gordon L. Monahan

Gordon L. Monahan had his Home Going on October 20, 2024. He passed away from complications of Parkinsonism and strokes at his home with Nancy in Champaign, IL. Thanks to the incredible and loving support of Traditions Hospice he was able to die in his own home in his own bed. His last intelligible words were to Nancy–”I Love you.” He was Blessed with 87 years, and as he stated prior to his last stroke, “I couldn’t have asked for more.” Gordon was a survivor of childhood polio, and lived well for 27 years after a 6 way heart bypass operation in 1997.

Gordon was born on September 11, 1937, the youngest child of Annette Potter Monahan and Arthur Philip Monahan in Mason City, Iowa. His older sisters fondly remembered that he was so small that his Mom kept him in a shoebox close to the stove to keep him warm. Older siblings included Bob, Joan, Carole, Phil and Dean. As he was growing up, he was blessed by a second father, Merrill Avery, at age 12. He graduated from Mason City High School in 1955 with the ambition of being a pharmacist. He attended the University of Iowa for one semester and then joined the Navy to complete his mandatory military service. He was an Aircraft Electrician aboard the U.S.S. Bon Homme Richard after training at various bases all over the country. His main tour was to Bombay and Japan. He was proud to be a part of President Eisenhower’s first People to People initiatives. After he returned home, he attended an aviation school in Minneapolis and became a “ramp tramp” at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport.

While working for North Central Airlines, he met and fell in love with Mary Arline Hughey, a ticket agent for the same airline. They married on September 28, 1962. Gordon and Mary were Blessed with a son, Michael Gordon Monahan, in 1967. With the loving support of Mary, Gordon returned to the University of Iowa and completed his degree in Pharmacy in 1969. Gordon worked for almost 30 years for Walgreens as a Pharmacist, Store Manager and District Pharmacy Manager. They lived in Dewey, Peoria, Champaign, Kankakee, and Decatur. Mary was diagnosed in 1986 with Breast Cancer and died after a hard fought battle of the disease on May 13, 1993 at the age of 51.

In 1995, Gordon became acquainted with the new Associate Pastor at Decatur Grace United Methodist Church where he was an usher, on the Evangelism Committee, and on the Administrative Board. On August 26, 1995, Gordon married Nancy Bess Waters Griffy and gained a daughter, Natalie Griffy-Monahan. He fully retired from Walgreens in December 1997 after an open heart surgery. They lived in Decatur, Normal, rural Nebo on Nancy’s family farm, in rural Oakland, and in Champaign, Illinois. In 2010, Nancy retired and they enjoyed many trips together, especially to New Mexico, to Canada with Natalie and Kyle, and to San Diego with Kira and Jaz. He loved going to family reunions in Mason City, Iowa and seeing all of his siblings and nieces and nephews. While in Mason City, they always visited his childhood church, Wesley United Methodist Church. Visiting family in Cedar Rapids, Oregon, and California were also special times. He and Nancy enjoyed spending every moment together, and they were rarely apart.

Gordon was a man of faith and integrity who loved deeply. Among his many interests were woodworking, making stained glass, reading historical fiction, watching Iowa Hawkeye sports, NASCAR racing, and the Chicago Bears. He loved little wooden boxes and First Peoples artwork. He loved Sherlock Holmes, British mysteries, and All Creatures Great and Small. His favorite author was Vicktor Frankl. He enjoyed seeing his beloved Mary run in marathons and was proud to be her head cheerleader. After he retired from Walgreens in 1997, he loved Christmas. One of his favorite traditions was watching Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol” every holiday season. He and Nancy were a great team leading worship service with Gordon running the projector and Nancy leading the service. No worship service was more special for Gordon than Christmas Eve serving Communion and lighting the congregational candles with Nancy. He looked forward to helping with Vacation Bible School each year and making all sorts of props to go with the yearly theme. He fondly remembered getting ready for the Trunk or Treat with the Hindsboro Church. Gordon and Nancy especially enjoyed their time at the Barry United Methodist Church and the Hindsboro United Methodist Church.

Gordon is survived by his Wife of 29 years, Nancy, his Son, Michael (and Kellie Jones-Monahan) Monahan, his daughter, Natalie Griffy-Monahan (Kyle) Snyders, Granddaughter, Kiralee Mary Monahan; Grandson, Jaz Monahan. He is survived by sister-in laws, Rosalie Monahan and Karen Hughey, and sister-in love, Dorothy Jacobs. He is also survived by his brother-in-love, Calvin (Rita) Allen. He and Nancy were blessed with friends that became family, Hank Davis and Nanci Newstrom. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Hughey Monahan, siblings and their spouses, Bob (Addie) Monahan, Joan (Lynn) Stratford, Phil (Fran) Monahan, Carole (Tom) Pinneke, Dean Monahan, from Mary’s family–Don Hughey and Leonard Jacobs; his three parents and special sister in law, Denny Monahan McNamee. Preceding him in death also were two sets of treasured in laws, Floyd and Nellie Hughey and Elmo and Mary Waters. He was an honorary and much loved member of the Hughey family, the Waters family and the Allen family. Nieces and nephews also survive in the Monahan, Hughey and Allen families.

A private immediate family service will be held at the family home in Champaign, Illinois with interment to follow at the North Fork Cemetery in Decatur, so that he will be buried next to Mary. The final song will be “When the Saints Go Marching In”---in his requested New Orleans Jazz style. Flowers will feature hot pink (his favorite color) and donations in his memory may be given to the Heifer Project, which gives hope to people around the world. Gordon believed in giving people a hand up and being on a mission trip to the Heifer Project Farm in Arkansas with Nancy was a treasured memory. He and Mary also believed strongly in cancer research and they were longtime supporters of St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Both causes were very dear to Gordon’s heart, and he would be honored to have donations to either cause given in his name. He was always uniquely aware of how his family had been helped financially when he was a child and loved giving to others anonymously when possible with Nancy as “Santa and Mrs. Claus.” We will be asking family and friends to do an act of kindness for someone else in his honor which would honor his memory in the best possible way. His favorite Biblical character was Lydia, the seller of the purple cloth who shared her Blessings with others and grew in her faith. He strove to be like her.

Gordon had a quiet presence, a strong faith, and with a wonderful sense of humor. His faith grew over time from singing in the choir with his brother Dean as a child in the Mason City,Iowa Wesley United Methodist Church. As he went through life, including Mary’s struggle with cancer and premature death, he found his faith in God to be the strength that allowed him to be a rock to those around him. He took great solace in Psalm 23 throughout his life, in both the good and hard times. As he walked with Mary through her illness and death, he felt comforted from the words of Psalm 23 and Isaiah 40:31. He also wanted to include Psalm 23 as a Scripture to be read at his wedding celebration with Nancy to symbolize that God is always with us. Some of his favorite three hymns were “Precious Lord Take My Hand, ”Amazing Grace,” “Just a Closer Walk With Thee,” and “Lord You Have Come to the Lakeshore.” Gordon’s spirit of love and giving will live on in all those who loved him, and we look forward to seeing him again.

Services for Gordon will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to St. Jude’s or the Heifer Project International.