Gary David McCombs, born July 21 1943, died Feb 17 2015, at home of natural causes.

Gary was born in Vigo County Indiana. As a young man he completed his apprenticeship to earn his Journeyman card as a lineman. He was a proud member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. As a lineman he traveled and worked across the United States before in settling in La Crosse. In La Crosse he worked various jobs through which he offered kind and compassionate service to others. Places he worked included Chileda, the Coulee Council on Addictions, and most recently, up until his death, CTS Taxi, where he was a driver and loyal member of the team.

Gary had a passion for the arts – classical music, theatre, opera and dance. He greatly enjoyed attending concerts by the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra. For several seasons he organized the usher program as volunteer head usher for the LSO. He also loved the music of Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash.

Gary had a tremendous love and appreciation for the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous in the La Crosse area as well as deep gratitude for the AA program. At the time of his death he was in his 39^th year of sobriety as a member of La Crosse-area AA. The fellowship will miss him greatly.

He is survived by his sister, Ann Blaine of Hendersonville, NC; two brothers, Patrick of Jacksonville, Fla, Douglas of Salt Lake City Utah, former wife Cora Freeman, Texas, two sons, Ernest and Henry Freeman, grandaughter Sierra Freeman-Smalley, several nieces, nephews and cousins, special friends Jim Schwanbeck, Jim Brown, Therese Roellich, Beth Harnish, Kimberly Thompson, all of La Crosse, Jane Woods of Madison, Wi, and Bea Drysdale of Iowa City, IA.

He is preceded in death by his parents, David Ernest McCombs and Eleanor Grace McCombs and two nephews, Rusty and Brian Witty.

At Gary’s request there will be no services. A private internment will be held at Marco Cemetery in Marco, Marco County, Indiana at a later date. In honor of Gary, memorials can be made to Camp Send a Kid, c/o Trust Point, 230 Front Street, La Crosse.