Gerald F. Fecht

TOLUCA- Gerald F. Fecht, 90, of Toluca passed away on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at OSF St. James Hospital in Pontiac.
Cremation has been accorded. His memorial service will be on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 11:00 A.M. at Antioch Christian Church in Toluca with Rev. Dr. Robert Idell officiating. Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the service at the church building from 10:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M. and inurnment will follow at Antioch Christian Cemetery in Toluca. Memorials may be made to Antioch Christian Church in Toluca, or to Eastern Marshall County EMS. Calvert & Johnson Memorial Home in Toluca is in charge of arrangements.

Gerald was born at home in Toluca on July 26, 1935, a son to Frank and Jessie (Spangler) Fecht. He married Pauline Litchfield at Antioch Christian Church in Toluca on December 2, 1960. She survives.

Also surviving are his children, Carol (Mike) Rinehart, Robert (Deanna) Fecht, William Fecht, all of Toluca, and son-in-law Jonathan Downey of Putnam. 9 grandchildren, James Downey of Putnam, Thomas (Jessica) Downey, of Henry, Caroline Downey of Huxley, Iowa, and Jonathan Downey of Putnam, Philip (Jade) Rinehart of Peoria, Joseph Fecht, Toluca, Katie (Kyler) Frieders of Bolingbrook, Bryan (Clarissa) Fecht of Clifton AZ, and Leah Fecht of Sycamore and 5 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, 2 brothers, 2 sisters, his daughter, Rhonda Downey, and daughter-in-law, Gina Fecht.

Gerald farmed his whole life in Toluca. The family farm was purchased by his grandfather, Jacob G. Fecht in 1910 and is designated by the Illinois Heritage Farm Program as a Centennial farm. To qualify as one of these farms, an agricultural property must have been owned by the same family of lineal or collateral descendants for over 100 years. Gerald was extremely proud to continue his family legacy. He was a member of Antioch Christian Church and raised his family to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. He served on the Toluca school board for 8 years and he was the Toluca-Varna-area rural mail carrier for many years.

Online memories and condolences may be sent to his family at www.calvertmemorial.com.