Edward J. “EJ” Gist, 65, of Fairview Heights, IL, born on October 15, 1958, in St. Louis, MO, passed away on Saturday, August 10, 2024, at Memorial Hospital in Belleville, IL.
EJ served in the US Army and was discharged as Private First Class. EJ had many interests. He loved his Christmas village and building model trains and RC cars. He also loved watching movies, wrestling, and westerns, and cruising his Jeep while listening to Journey and Aerosmith. An animal lover, EJ adored his three cats, Helen (AKA Walter), Jerzee, and Elsa; and his dog, Otis (Odie).
EJ was preceded in death by his father, Edward James Gist; and one brother, Michael Gist.
Left to cherish EJ’s memory are his mother, Ida Mae Gist (nee Hibbler); his beloved wife, Angela Gist (nee Williams); his five children, Andre, Morgan (Joe), Taylor (Lance Sr.), Deron (Kena), Edward III; two stepchildren, Shawna, Brandi; seven siblings, Yolunda, Sheila, Carlos, Marcus, Esther (Mansour), Andrea, Reginald; and eleven grandchildren, Lance Jr., Taya, Taleah, LaNiyah, Luna, Greyson, Deron II, TeYara, Daija, Destiny, and Dorian.
Memorial donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; https://www.stjude.org/. Condolences may be extended to the family online at www.schildknechtfh.com.
A memorial visitation will take place on Monday, August 19, 2024, from 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., at Schildknecht Funeral Home; 301 S. Lincoln Ave., O’Fallon, IL 62269.
A memorial service will take place on Monday, August 19, 2024, at 11:30 a.m., at Schildknecht Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, MO.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Schildknecht Funeral Home.
