Duane E. Gill, age 65, a resident of West Chicago, IL, passed away on Monday, May 13, 2024.  He was born September 28, 1958 in Levelland, Texas.

Duane Gill spent his time on this earth like no other. Described by his friend John "Showy" Showalter as "full of life," Duane was the type of person that had an impact on every room he walked into. Whether you were afraid of him, like some of his employees, or couldn't wait to talk about fantasy football or the Sox like his friends in the bar, Duane was always someone special to somebody.

Although he called Chicago home for most of his life, Duane was born in Texas to his loving parents Billy and Joan Gill. Duane had a full childhood, developing a deep love of sports, reading, and exploration. Duane and his siblings were all sent to Catholic elementary schools and high schools, something that would inform the discipline he expected out of himself and others later in his life as a General Manager and as a father. Even before he got his license, there was nothing Duane loved more than the open road and learning his way around. He used to ride his bike from his childhood home near Harlem and Northwest Highway all around the city to places like Superdawg, North Avenue beach, and the park to of course play softball. He was also a proud Boy Scout, becoming an Eagle Scout, something he carried with him the rest of his life as one of his greatest achievements.

Duane was incredibly ambitious and hard working. Starting with D & B Auto Radio in 1982, he worked as a technician on radios with Dave and Bob on both the bench and routes. Duane was very aggressive in growing the radio and dash business. In the mid 1980's, D & B Auto Radio really started to expand and Duane was promoted into management, a position he held for over 25 years. In the 90's, Duane helped expand D & B into neighboring states, living in Milwaukee, WI and Davenport, IA. As the business changed, Duane started to manage the fleet installation business, something he would do until his final days. For this he would travel all over the US, something he loved to do already.
Overall Duane was an integral part to D & B's success and was loved and respected by all in the company.

In his personal life, Duane was a good partner, great friend, and even better father. Duane met the love of his life, Cheryl "Cheri" Shea, in 1990 of course at D & B Auto Radio, where Cheri was hired on for customer service. For Cheri, it was love at first sight as she fell for him in her job interview, telling her friend Kimmy that he was going to be hers. The romance started at after work parties at Fantasy Lounge, where Cheri would try her best to come on into him and it worked. Duane fell for her and the two started dating secretly. Cheri and her friends would refer to him as Fred and meet for drinks at King James Bar, later Hawthorne's Backyard which became a sanctuary for him in his later years. The two moved in together in 1994 and four years later brought a son into the world, William "Billy" Gill. As a father, Duane would pass on his love of sports, reading, exploration, and life itself to his son. He coached his son's baseball teams and was a scoutmaster for his Boy Scout Troop. He supported him during the roughest parts of life and was by his son's side for the highest of highs. He never gave up on him, even when it was easy to, bringing him to Community College as Billy turned his life around. Duane was proud to attend his son's college graduation at University of Illinois, a confirmation that all of his hard work as a father had not gone to waste and that he gave all he could to the next generation. A son could not have asked for a better father.

It is impossible to fully capture the life of Duane Gill using just words. Those that knew him know that he was complex and hard to understand at times, but it was always clear that he had a heart of gold and would do anything for those he loved. As the saying goes, "you just had to be there." He will be missed greatly by all who knew him but he is not lost. His spirit will live on in the memories of all those he managed to touch, still having the power to make those he loved laugh from beyond the grave. Macte virtute, sic itur ad astra .

He is survived by his longtime partner Cheryl Shea; his son William Gill; his mother Joan Gill; his brother Robert Gill and his sister Debra (Russ) Grummel. Also survived by his faithful, four-legged little girl Magpie "Maggie" Gill.

He was preceded in death by his father Billy D. Gill and numerous close friends.

A visitation will be held on Monday, May 20, 2024. from 3:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main Street, Wheaton, IL 60187. Relatives & friends are invited to meet directly at Calvary Cemetery (East Washington Street and Easton Avenue) in West Chicago on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at 11:30 a.m. for a graveside service.

Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.