Roscoe Police Department mourns passing of Lieutenant Gary Ballard
Former Roscoe Police Officer Gary Ballard passed away July 9, 2013, after a six-month struggle with cancer. He was 63 years old.
Family, friends and former co-workers of former Roscoe Police Officer Gary Ballard said their final good-by, Wednesday, July 17, at a Memorial Service in the chapel of Cremation Society of Illinois, 6825 Weaver Road, Rockford.
Ballard passed away July 9, 2013, after a six-month struggle with cancer. He was 63 years old.
Police officers from Roscoe and around the area paid tribute to one of their own. Members of the Northern Illinois Multi-jurisdictional Honor Guard, made up of law enforcement agencies throughout Winnebago County presented colors at the beginning of the Memorial Service.
Pastor Jason Mach of North Park Covenant Church in Machesney Park officiated.
Hundreds of mourners attended the 11 a.m. service.
Ballard grew up in Loves Park and graduated from Harlem High School. He joined the Roscoe Police Department, Sept. 15, 1988, and retired with the rank of Lieutenant, in 2008.
He is survived by his wife Mary, daughters Ann (Mike Rayborn) Ballard-Sterkeson, and Toni (Dan) Herhold. He is also survived by five grandchildren, parents Howard and Evelyn Ballard, sisters Debbie Ballard and DiAnn (Ron Theobold) Ballard; brother, Steven Ballard; and nephew, Conner.
Ballard served in the U.S Army and was a Vietnam veteran. Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Honor Guard fired a three volley salute in his honor In a joint presentation with the Multi-jurisdictional Honor Guard, and members of the VFW presented the folded flag to the Ballard family.
Roscoe Chief of Police Jamie Evans said Ballard was her field training officer when she came on the force in 1998.
“Gary did a lot of the major accident investigations for the department. He went to school for accident reconstruction and was really interested in that area of law enforcement.”
Roscoe officer Billy Weston remembered Ballard as the guy who was always willing to help.
“He liked putting on a costume and helping out with the kids at the Haunted Jail during the community Halloween party several years ago. He was a good guy. He will be missed.”
His daughter, Ann, said her dad got along with everyone.
“He was a patient and quiet man with a great sense of humor. He always wanted to be a police officer. He was a brave man. We were very proud of him.”
