Final Salute

Gary Dean Gerdes, 74, of Forest City, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 27, 2024 at MercyOne Medical Center North Iowa in Mason City, IA.

A gathering of friends and family will be held from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM, Monday, December 2, 2024 at Schott Funeral Homes, 505 North Clark St. Forest City, Iowa 50436, with a Memorial Service directly following at 6:00 PM at the funeral home with Pastor Rod Hopp of Immanuel Lutheran Church officiating.

Burial of cremains will take place at Oakland Cemetery in Forest City, IA at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Gary Gerdes Memorial Fund in care of the family.

Gary Dean Gerdes was born on November 8, 1950 to William and Velma Gerdes. They resided in Woden, Iowa and he graduated high school in 1968. After high school, he served in the Navy Seabees and went to school at Dunwood Institute for Drafting. Gary married Ann Tweeten and they had one daughter, Jodie.

He worked as a carpenter and at Winnebago Industries. After retirement he worked for Forest City Schools as a bus driver. He enjoyed this job a lot and also had good stories to tell about his 90+ bus kids – good & bad!

He loved sports of all kinds, especially watching Minnesota Twins baseball. He loved his dogs and feeding his birds. He had fun riding his bike and kayaking. He enjoyed going to Branson, Missouri every summer with the grandkids and looked forward to it all year. Most of all, he loved being with his grandchildren and they enjoyed working on various projects with him. He will be dearly loved and missed by all who knew him.

Gary is survived by his wife, Ann of Forest City; daughter, Jodie Steen of Swea City; grandchildren, Nicole (Alex) Templeton of Fertile and Cobe Brones of Swea City; great grandson, Walker Templeton; four brothers, Tim (Lori) Gerdes, Dale (Kristin) Gerdes, Steve Gerdes, and Bruce (Christine) Gerdes; and many nieces and nephews.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents.