WEGNER, Gary F. 1940-2014
WEGNER, RAUSCH, DENNER, TURNER, VIKDAL, SHATEK, KOELKER, BOOS
Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 6/5/2014 at 03:23:07
[New Hampton Tribune, Monday, April 14, 2014]
Gary F. Wegner age 73 of New Hampton, died Saturday morning, Apr. 12, 2014, at Mercy Medical Center in Mason City.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Apr. 16, 2014, at Holy Family Parish-St. Joseph Center, New Hampton with Rev. Mark Osterhaus celebrating the Mass. The pall will be placed by Michael Denner, Zach Denner, Hannah Denner, Darian Wegner and Sydney Wegner. Lectors for the service will be Gretta Hackman, Jill Boogerd and Denise Gordan. Presenting the offertory gifts will be Janet Wegner, Linda Denner, Jamie and Nick Wegner. Presenting roses will be Molly Wegner, Emma Hovenga and Kuennen Wegner.
Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, New Hampton with Nick Shatek, Nick Koelker, Monty Vikdal, Bill Eischeid, Ryan Wegner and Spencer Wegner as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Gary's grandchildren, Zach Denner, Michael Denner, Hannah Denner, Darian Wegner, Sydney Wegner, Molly Wegner, Emma Hovenga and Kuennen Wegner, along with Steve Wegner, Russell Wegner, Steve Boos and Jim Boos.
Friends may greet the family 3 - 8 p.m. Tuesday, Apr. 15, 2014, at the St. Joseph Gathering Space, where there will be a Knights of Columbus Rosary held at 2:30 p.m. Visitation continues an hour prior to the Mass at the St. Joseph Gathering Space on Wednesday. Funeral arrangements are with the Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home in New Hampton.
Gary Francis Wegner was born Nov. 28, 1940, in New Hampton, the son of John and Margaret (Rausch) Wegner. He received his education at St. Joseph Catholic School in New Hampton. As a young man, Gary worked for his dad at Wegner Welding and also worked for several years at the former Hydrotile Company in Nashua. On May 1, 1965, at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in St. Lucas, he married Norma Kuennen. To this union four children were born. Gary and his wife, along with Gary’s brother, Allan purchased Wegner Welding in 1970. Two short years later, Allen died and Gary and Norma continued on as sole owners.
He was always interested in bettering his town. The bleachers at the New Hampton High School were a large project Gary was responsible for building. Through his entrepreneurial spirit, the couple grew Wegner Welding and later changed the name to New Hampton Metal Fab. In 2007, the couple sold the business to their sons, Jamie and Nick. After a brave and long battle with cancer, Norma died on Sept. 5, 2009, at the age of 65.
Gary later met Deborah (Boos) Boots and the couple were married on May 11, 2012, at St. Joseph Catholic church in New Hampton. They enjoyed their time visiting family and friends and especially the warm months in Florida.
Gary will be remembered for so many things in the community he dearly loved. Everyone who knew him will remember his infectious smile and laugh. He loved telling stories and was exceptionally good at it. Because he was the adventuresome type, he would ‘try anything once’. He was an active community leader having been president of the Industrial Development Corporation, Past Lions Club President and a former President of the New Hampton Light Plant Board. Gary was instrumental in developing Kenwood Park and starting the tractor pull held there every year in New Hampton. Gary was a visionary in all his endeavors which helped in the different projects he did with both the St. Joseph School and Church. He and Debbie loved their winters in Florida where his vision never ceased and now a park remains dedicated in his name.
Survivors include his wife, Deborah; two daughters, Janet Wegner of Dubuque and Linda (Dave) Denner of New Hampton; two sons, Jamie (Trish) Wegner and Nick (April) Wegner, all of New Hampton; eight grandchildren; four sisters, Kathleen (Kay) Turner, Marilyn Wegner all of New Hampton; Waunita (Ron) Vikdal of North Washington, Joyce (Lester) Shatek of New Hampton; two brothers, Russell (Nancy) Wegner of Fredericksburg and Steve (Sue) Wegner of New Hampton; a step-daughter, Nicole (Nicholas) Koelker of Cedar Falls; his father and mother-in-law, Jim and Florence Boos of New Hampton.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Norma; one granddaughter, Jenna Lynn Denner; two brothers, Allan Wegner in 1972 and Richard Wegner in 1996.
Chickasaw Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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