Gary Larson

Gary Larson, 67, of Winterset died Saturday, February 25, 2017, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. A visitation will be held from 2 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, March 1, at Ochiltree Funeral Service where family will be present to receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m., with a Prayer Service beginning at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, March 2, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Winterset with burial to follow in the Fontanelle Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Winterset Fire Department, American Diabetes Association and National Kidney Foundation. Gary Lewis Larson, son of Harold and Mary Ann (Vernia) Larson, was born October 28, 1949, in Carroll, Iowa. He attended school in Fontanelle and graduated from Fontanelle High School in the Class of 1967. He went on to attend AIB in Des Moines and served in the United States Airforce. Gary married Ruth Michels and to this union three children were born. Later he married Peggy Cox on December 26, 1986. Gary was employed by Agriland FS for 40 years, retiring in September of 2012. He served on the Winterset Planning and Zoning Committee and was a volunteer fireman with the Winterset Fire Department for 17 years and the Griswold Fire Department for four years. He was a member at St. Joseph Catholic Church and Covered Bridge Campers both of Winterset. He loved woodworking, taking care of his yard, especially when it required using his John Deere tractor. He also enjoyed camping, playing cards and he loved John Wayne. All this said, Gary was a soft spoken man with a dry sense of humor who loved nothing more than time spent with family and friends and especially any time spent with his six precious grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, Peggy Larson of Winterset; children, Scott (Deb) Larson, Nicole (James) Riley, and Sara (Jason) Swestka all of Marion; siblings, Gene Larson of Urbandale, Kathy (Al) Strang of Knoxville, Debbie (Tim) Sly of Wadena, MN; sisters-in-law, Mary Powell and Helen Larson both of Greenfield; six grandchildren, Hannah and Carter Larson, Madison and Emilie Riley, and Mallory and Mylie Swestka, many nieces, nephews, extended family and a host of friends. Gary was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Alan Larson, and brother-in-law, Guy Powell.