George "Gary" Yde

June 14, 1934 - February 8, 2022

George “Gary” Yde was born in Freeport, Illinois on June 14, 1934, and passed on to the Lord on February 8, 2022, in Upland, California. Gary was the first born of George and Vera Yde and took a heavy burden of responsibility on his shoulders when his mother and father divorced while he was still very young. He began working as a boy to help his mom. He married Jacklyn Groves, whom he met at Freeport High School, in 1953 and they had five children together between 1953 and 1966: Michael, Michelle, Mark, Matthew, and Gregory. He is survived by his wife Bo, his five children, his daughters-in-law Jan and Stacey and son-in-law Michael, his three grandchildren Trevor, Julian, and Austin, and a great grandchild, Shepherd, who was born two days after his death, on February 10. He is survived also by his brother Jim and sisters Suzanne and Jody. His brother Ron died in 2005. Gary and his family moved from Freeport to Rockford and then to St. Paul, Minnesota before moving back to Illinois in 1964, this time settling in Mount Prospect. Gary had many jobs before his elevation to District Manager at Robert Hall Clothing stores. Gary stayed with Robert Hall until the early 1970s when he (with two partners) purchased a fireplace accessories store—King’s Row Fireplace Shop—and went into business for himself. This first store, located in Yorktown Mall in Lombard, was incredibly successful and Gary and his partners expanded, eventually owning as many as 24 stores in Illinois and Texas. King’s Row evolved into The Grate Fireplace Shop and was later sold to Tandy Brands in the early 1980s. With more time on his hands then he’d ever had before, Gary learned the intricacies of the stock market and became an investor. His next venture as entrepreneur was The Brass Hearth Fireplace Shop, which he opened in Deerfield, Illinois in 1985, later adding three more stores. Gary and Jackie divorced in 1973 and Gary married Bo Zhang in 1997. Gary started Garbo Home Accents with his wife, which was mostly run by Bo while Gary continued to run The Brass Hearth. In 2016 Gary and his wife moved to Rancho Cucamonga, California. A successful businessman, Gary was charitable and self-sacrificing. He worked for others, not for himself. Meek and humble, gentle and kind, his son Matt says: “I never heard my dad raise his voice in anger. He never turned anyone away who came to him for help, especially his kids. He would do anything for you, at great sacrifice to himself.” In his last years he had dementia, but it seemed to accentuate his natural kindness and innate gentleness. The scripture says, “Unless you be converted and become as a little child, you shall not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” Gary became like a child again in his last years and was a delight to be around. He suffered a stroke on February 4 and died four days later. May his memory be eternal. Memorial services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday May 3, 2022 at Burke Tubbs Funeral Home. Visitation 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.