Jacquelyn "Jackie" J. Gambrel

Jacquelyn “Jackie” J. Gambrel, 99, long-time Oregon resident, died Sunday, February 9, 2025 at Wesley Willows, Rockford, following a long illness.

Jackie was born November 22, 1925, in Oregon, Illinois at Dr. Warmolt’s first hospital on the east side of Rock River. She was the only child of the late John “Jack” McGuire and Gladys (Claussen) McGuire. She spent her early years growing up on the McGuire farm and attending school in a one-room schoolhouse in Honey Creek east of Oregon before moving to Oregon in 6th grade. She graduated from Oregon High School in 1943. 

Jackie was the first in her family to attend college. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1947 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education and a minor in Physiology. While at the University, she was initiated into Alpha Gamma Delta and was a member of that Panhellenic organization for over 80 years.

During high school and college, Jackie spent her summers as a lifeguard and swimming instructor, first at the Oregon pool by the Oregon Coliseum and then as head lifeguard at Lake Louise in Byron, Illinois during the late 1940’s. It was at Lake Louise in Byron that she met her future husband, Earl Gambrel.

On August 5, 1948, she was united in marriage to Earl Junior Gambrel at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Oregon, Illinois. They were happily married for over 59 years until Earl’s passing in 2007.

In addition to being a devoted and loving wife, mother and grandmother, Jackie spent many years of her life from 1947 to 1991 as an educator. She started her teaching career in 1947 at Oregon High School where she taught Physical Education from 1947 – 1951. In late 1951, she moved to Lake Charles, Louisiana where Earl was stationed at Lake Charles Air Force Base. While there, she taught PE for two years in the public school system. In 1953, Jackie and Earl were transferred, courtesy of the Air Force, to the Strategic Air Command Base outside London. During Earl’s two-year tour of duty outside London, Jackie taught junior high students in the Air Force Dependents School. After returning to Oregon in 1955 and following a few years break when her daughter, Judith, was born, Jackie started teaching Physical Education at St. Mary’s Elementary School in the 1960’s. She taught Physical Education and then 5th grade at St. Mary’s from 1964 until the school closed in 1971. She then returned to the Oregon Community Unit School District where she taught junior high students from 1971 until her retirement in 1991.

Jackie loved all kinds of sports and continued swimming and playing golf for most of her life. She spent hours before and after retirement at the indoor Oregon pool doing laps early in the morning. Jackie and Earl were members of Oregon Golf Club for many years and they enjoyed playing golf well into their retirement. Jackie was also a dedicated volunteer for St. Mary’s parish where she served on countless committees and in many roles including being Grand Regent of the Catholic Daughters and holding an office on the Parish Council. She was also on the Board of LifeLine Food and Self-Help Project in its earlier years, serving as Secretary. Jackie loved bridge, cooking, working in the yard and traveling to near and far places with Earl. Most of all, she loved the time that she spent with her grandchildren, John and Laura. They were lucky to have many fun times with her learning to swim, making cookies and creating memories.

Jackie is survived by daughter, Judith (Judy) and her husband Todd Flessner of Oak Park, California; two grandchildren, John Flessner of Marina del Rey, California, and Laura (Jeff) Stallman of San Luis Obispo, California; great-granddaughter, Brooke Stallman of San Luis Obispo, CA and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, February 21, 2025 at Farrell-Holland-Gale Funeral Home, 110 South 7th Street, Oregon, Illinois. A visitation will be held at the funeral home on February 21st from 10:00 am – 11:00 am preceding the funeral service. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Oregon.

The family would like to thank the wonderful caregivers at Wesley Willows and Mercyhealth Hospice in Rockford for the professional and loving care that they provided to Jackie during the final years of her life. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial funds have been established in her name at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Oregon, Wesley Willows Good Samaritan Fund in Rockford and for LifeLine Food and Self-Help Project in Oregon.