Ivyl G. Gheer

Ivyl G. Gheer was born in Ava, Missouri, on November 16, 1936. He attended Banner and Brushy Knob country schools where he graduated from the 8th grade. Later in life he earned his G.E.D. His marriage to Cletha Maxine Wise took place on May 24, 1958 in Pleasant Valley, Iowa, and to this union two sons were born, Rusty and Rick. Ivyl was a truck driver. He worked from 1973 until his retirement for Iron Works of Des Moines. After retirement he and wife, Maxine, bought a small farm near Woodburn, Iowa where he enjoyed gardening, growing a large vegetable garden which he loved to share with his friends. He also helped with Maxine’s business, Rite-n-Gear Rodeo Company. Ivyl was a fun loving, free-spirited, and caring individual, who always had a smile on his face. He was a member of the Iowa Rodeo Cowboys Association, the United Rodeo Association, and the National Old Timers Rodeo Association. He was a bull rider and a saddle bronc rider. Ivyl was a five-time saddle bronc champion in the IRCA and URA champion in 1983. In his free time he enjoyed deer and pheasant hunting and playing with his grandchildren. On Friday afternoon, July 22, 2011, Ivyl entered into rest at the age of 74 in Centerville, Iowa. Preceding him in death were his parents; wife, Maxine; a son, Rick Gheer; and 2 brothers, Rod and A.L. Ivyl is survived by a son, Rusty (Lynn) Gheer of Centerville; a daughter-in-law, Connie Gheer of Orient; 7 grandchildren, Amber Dickerson (J.D.) of Corpus Christi, TX; Katy Lambert of Brownwood, TX; Kendra Chism (Kerry) of Brownwood, TX; Leanna Gheer of Orient; Rachel, Molly and Camy Gheer all of Centerville; 2 step-grandchildren, Risa Cave of Clive; Lincoln Steele of Orient; 8 great grandchildren, Lillian, Madisyn, Rylee, and Dylan Dickerson, Trent Chism, Weston Chism, Jaylen Savage, and Noah and Nicholas Lambert; 2 brothers, Lyndon (Joyce) Gheer of Bettendorf and Leon (Diana) Gheer of Amarillo, TX; a brother-in-law Ernest Wise (Sharon) of Diagonal and sister in-law Alice Dykes (DeWayne) of Bettendorf and many nieces, nephews and a host of friends. The family will be present to receive guest beginning at 4:00 p.m. with funeral services being held at 7 p.m., Tuesday, July 26th at Ochiltree Funeral Service in Winterset. A committal service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 27th at the Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery, Davenport. Memorial contributions to be used at the family’s discretion will be accepted. On-line condolences may be directed to the family at www.ochiltree.com.