Jeffrey A. Gahman

BARTHOLOMEW, GAHMAN, WASKOW, WAYNE

Posted By: Cindy (email)
Date: 12/2/2021 at 18:49:09

Jeffrey A. Gahman, 58, of Independence, IA died on Monday, December 2, 2019 at his home.

Jeff was born on August 20, 1961 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, the son of William E. and Dorothy W. (Bartholomew) Gahman. He was a 1979 graduate of Pennridge High School in Perkasie, Pennsylvania. After high school, he took his love and talent for welding and fabrication and turned it into a career. For the next several years, he worked on heavy equipment, commercial elevators, and other precision welding projects. In 1987 he married Shelley Waskow. In the early nineties, they made their home in Independence, IA with their two children, but later divorced.

Jeff worked for Real Racing Wheels in Independence, IA for several years. While working there, he was able to combine his love for dirt track racing with welding as he made a living building wheels for local and professional race teams. For the last thirteen years, he worked for John Deere in Waterloo, IA. He held a variety of jobs in large tractor production. He was also a member of the UAW 848.

Jeff had a passion for tinkering. He spent countless hours working on motorcycles, cars, and anything else he felt that he could "improve". Some of his most notable fabrications are not limited to but include; a drift trike with a detachable rear end, custom bike ramps used to move motorcycles into "winter storage" (the kitchen), and an ornate fence for an outdoor air unit.

His favorite time spent was with his daughters. They enjoyed going to the races, attending car shows, and sharing in Jeff's other passion, fishing and cruising the Wapsi.

He is survived by his mother, Dorothy Gahman of Bedminster Twp., PA; his daughters, Carly (Marcus) Wayne of Independence, IA and Cora (Cole) Campbell of Waterloo, IA; a grandson, Warren Robert Campbell; two brothers; Thomas (Beatrice) Gahman of Riegelsville, PA and R. Scott (Christine) Gahman of Bethlehem, PA, and a sister, Debora Gahman of Bedminster Twp., PA.

Jeff is preceded in death by his father, William E. Gahman.

As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be made to either the American Heart Association or a local animal shelter.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.