A legendary name and voice in Galesburg car sales for nearly a half century has died.
Gene Stull, who worked at Lakis Ford, Yemm Ford and most recently Yemm Chevrolet/Chrysler for a combined 50 years, died Saturday after an 18-month battle with cancer. He was 77.
Born in Monmouth, Stull started his automotive career as a salesman at Louis Lakis Ford in the late 1960s. He later worked his way into management.
While still undergoing cancer treatment, Stull began the final chapter of his car salesman career at Yemm Chevrolet and Chrysler in May of 2022.
“Gene has been part of the Yemm family for some time, and he’s made a definite lasting imprint on all of us,” said Sara Yemm, general manager of Yemm Auto Group. “He lived so fully everyday. He always had a smile, a positive mindset and encouraging words for everyone he worked with.
“We’re just doing our best to shift our sadness and our heartbreak to gratitude of the gift of Gene. We hope to carry on his passion for cars and his customers.”
Obituary: R. Gene Stull: September 29, 1945 ~ April 1, 2023
Stull is survived by his wife Judy and his children Tyson Stull, Brad Stull, Nicole Huels, Joey Stull, Missy Lansing and Wendy McAdam.
Stull attended and graduated from Alexis High School where he was a standout football player and track athlete. After high school, he attended barber school and owned and operated a barber shop for a few years in Wataga.
His obituary says customers dubbed Stull as “legendary” — the finest car and truck salesman to grace a dealership floor. Colleagues wouldn’t disagree.
‘Gene was a legend in so many ways’
Jesse J Perez, a salesman at Yemm Chevrolet, started his career at Lakis Ford in 1986 and worked with Stull for more than 20 years.
“I tell you what, when you talk about legendary, Gene Stull was legendary in so many ways,” Perez said. “He sold a lot of cars because a lot of people liked him and trusted him. And that’s the name of the game. I tried to follow in his footsteps.
“I remember the first thing he told me, and it sticks in my head to this day — always take care of the customers. He would say, ‘you spend the commission, you better take care of the customers.’”
Rick Sandoval, used car manager at Galesburg Nissan, worked with Stull for 23 years at Lakis Ford.
“He was able to look a customer in the eye, and put himself in their shoes,” Sandoval said. “I watched him tell young kids, ‘Hey, you don’t want to do that’ because he knew it would put them in a spot they shouldn’t be in payment wise.
“When Gene shook your hand, he shook your hand. There was no little half thing.”
Ford of Galesburg sales manager Mike Glasnovich, who worked with Stull for 30 years, said, “He was one of the funniest, honest, crazy, yet most sincere persons you’d ever meet. Roll that all into one, and you had Gene Stull.
“Gene was like a brother to me.”
“What a guy. He had a smile and a laugh that could light up a room. He was one of a kind, and the world’s going to be lost without him.” — Rick Sandoval, Ford of Galesburg
While Stull may not have always remembered a customer’s name, Sandoval said his friend had an uncanny way of recalling the year, make and model of vehicles he sold them.
“What a guy,” Sandoval said. “He had a smile and a laugh that could light up a room. He was one of a kind, and the world’s going to be lost without him.”
Sandoval said the the stories and adventures the pair shared are many, noting, “The guy taught me how to drink Manhattans and or an Old Fashioned.”
The last conversation Sandoval and Stull shared came two weeks ago.
“I last shared a text with Gene a couple of weeks ago,” said Sandoval, fighting back tears. “He was getting sick, but I told him we could still have another beer together. He said, ‘Ricky, you let me get a little better, and we’ll do that.’
“He was the dad I always asked questions to, because I didn’t have my dad. That guy will always hold a special place in my heart.”
Stull’s prowess as a car salesman was enhanced and possibly matched by the many popular radio ads he recorded over the past two decades. Longtime Galesburg Broadcasting sales manager Chris Postin was the creative force behind many of the ads, and said Stull wasn’t afraid to make fun of himself for most of the commercials.
Glasnovich said, “We used to look forward to doing those commercials. The wilder and crazier, the better. “
“It will be hard to fill Gene’s void because he had such a big personality,” Yemm said. “He was always so full of exuberance and love.
“He had a larger than life personality. He was charismatic and fun to be around. Even if you were having a tough day, he could put a smile on your face. He just made our days better.”
Glasnovich had a chance to speak with his friend by phone Friday, the day before Stull died.
“He was determined,” Glasnovich said. “It wasn’t going to keep him down. Even when we talked the day before he died, he wasn’t going to give up. We didn’t say a final goodbye.”
Stull was determined despite cancer battle
Perez said he admired Stull’s outlook on life, even during his final months while battling cancer.
“The guy didn’t have a bad day, man,” Perez said. “Even when he had cancer. I’d say to him, ‘Gene, should you be here today?’ He was out moving cars during our last snow storm a few weeks ago.
“People would say, ‘why isn’t he home? Why is he here? Shouldn’t he be home getting some rest?’ Gene told me, ‘you know what, Jesse? This is just in my blood. I can’t sit at home and just think about the ifs and the what’s. This is where I want to be.'”
Services for Robert Gene Stull are set for Watson Thomas Funeral Home in Galesburg, with visitation from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday and funeral services 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family in care of Judy Stull for funds to be designated at Mayo Clinic.
