Gayle Milton Webber

Gayle Milton Webber, 92 of Evanston, passed away Sunday September 3, 2023 at The Pearl of Evanston. He was born Sunday August 30, 1931 in Sioux City Iowa, the son of Raymond Webber and Alida Webber, nee Smith. He grew up in Sioux City, attending public schools and graduating from East High Scholl in 1949. He then attended Morningside College in Sioux City and graduated with a BS in Chemistry in 1953. It was there that he was a member of the Grace United Methodist Church. After attending Iowa State College for one year, he served two years in the US Army. In the Army, he was trained in Radar electronics, spending a year stationed in Germany. He returned to State University of Iowa in 1956, earning a MS in Organic Chemistry in 1958. He worked at G.D. Searle located in Skokie IL from the fall of 1958 and later transferred to The Nutrasweet Company in Mt. Prospect IL in 1990. He retired in 1992. He spent two years consulting for the Searle High Pressure Chemistry Lab. While working at Searle, he was a Process Research Chemist, which meant developing new and more efficient synthetic chemical reactions for drug manufacture. One of the first projects was to develop a cheaper synthesis for the first birth control pill. This work resulted in a substantially cheaper pill. Later, at Nutrasweet, a spinoff of Searle, he worked on the improved synthesis of aspartamc, and on new experimental synthetic sweeteners. Living in Evanston from 1958, he was a member of the First United Methodist Church. He served the church as Treasurer, Usher and Collector, Annual Conference Member, Rummage, Electrical Dept Chair, Nominations Committe, Missions Committee and Adult Council. At the University of Iowa, he met Nancy Sell and they were married in1960 in Oshkosh Wisconsin. The couple had three children, Cynthia(Art) of Milwaukee WI, Donald of Santa Clara CA and Steven of Evanston. Grandfather of Alexander and Frederick(Paula), both of Missouri. He is the great grandfather of 6. During his retirement, he went on many Volunteer in Missouri trips and Elderhostels. He went on ViMs both with his wife Nancy and alone to Alaska, Peru (4 times), China, India, the Philippines and Senegal.

Interment private. Arrangements entrusted to Evanston Funeral & Cremation, Roland F. Weis director. Info 847 866-8843, condolence and guestbook at evanstonfuneral.com

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