Dr Gary Wayne Hoelle

Dr. Gary Wayne Hoelle (64) died peacefully on Thursday, March 12, 2020 of complications from pancreatic cancer. He was born in LaSalle, Illinois on November 1, 1955 to Wayne and Susan Jane (Woods) Hoelle. He lost his mother when he was only 3 years old and was raised by his father and his second wife, Patricia (Dart) Hoelle. 

Upon graduating from LaSalle Peru High School, Gary went on to earn a Bachelors of Science in chemistry from Illinois State University. In 1981 Gary earned his Doctorate of Podiatric Medicine from the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine. He set up his first practice in his hometown of LaSalle, and then joined a group practice where he served in LaSalle, Peoria, Chillicothe, and Princeton. He left the larger practice and became affiliated with Perry Memorial Hospital in 1997. In total, he served the community for 37 years, during which time he estimated he saw almost 200,000 patients.

Gary had two children, Lisa and Michael, during the 1980s. He married Teresa “Terry” (Wirth) Hoelle of Wyanet in 2004, at which point he also became a loving father figure to her daughter, Tara.

Throughout his life, Gary loved travel. He traveled extensively throughout the world, but especially loved Europe, New Orleans, and Charleston. Gary developed a love of music as a child, taking up trumpet at 4 and piano at 6. He spent the last few years of his life pursuing his genealogy and found 57 new family members in California, ultimately meeting many of them. More than anything, he was devoted to his family, new and passed, from his grandson to his grandparents, from Illinois to California.

Despite being a self-proclaimed introvert, Gary always played an active role in the community. He was a fourth generation member of Zion United Church of Christ. He served on the board of the Illinois Valley Credit Union for over 25 years. Upon moving to Princeton he played trumpet in the Princeton Community Band, loving rehearsals and performances, and was a longtime member of the Princeton Elks Club. Beyond this, Gary was simply a warm, selfless, and loving person. He was a devoted friend; a loving husband, father, and grandfather; and a compassionate doctor.

Gary is survived by his wife, Terry (Wirth) Hoelle, his children Lisa (Benjamin Portilla) of Longmont, CO and Michael (Patricia Erlenborn) of Utica, IL, his stepdaughter Tara Flint of Prophetstown, IL, and his grandson David Portilla. No visitation will be held. Services will be held at 11am on Wednesday, March 18th at Grant-Johnson Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Princeton Community Band or the Mayo Clinic for pancreatic cancer research at www.philanthropy.mayoclinic.org. Online condolences may be sent to www.grant-johnsonfh.com.