LINDSEY, Gary Dale

LINDSEY, LIONBERGER, RIPPEY

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 4/27/2015 at 11:03:14

Obituary ~ Gary Dale Lindsey
August 23, 1948 ~ May 31, 2010

Leon Journal-Reporter
Leon, Decatur County, Iowa
June, 2010

Gary Dale Lindsey, 61, was born August 23, 1948 in the old Decatur County Hospital in Leon, Iowa to William L. and Margaret Dale (Lionberger) Lindsey, and died May 31, 2010, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines.

Funeral services were 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 4, at Loving Chapel United Methodist Church in Leon. The Rev. Lyle Ball, Jim Lane and Deacon Reinhold Kunze officiated. Burial was in Leon Cemetery with military honors by Cowl-Scott American Legion Post No. 80 of Leon. Slade-O’Donnell Funeral Home of Leon was in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be given to Loving Chapel United Methodist Church or a memorial fund the family will determine later.

Gary grew up in Leon doing all the things that growing up in the 50s and 60s allowed kids in a small town to do -- Cub Scouts, little league, piano lessons and shooting skunks with a bow and arrow.

Gary graduated from Leon high school with the class of 1966 where he participated in band, chorus, Boy Scouts, basketball and baseball, his first love. He was awarded the coveted Arion award for band and became an Eagle Scout. He then attended Drake University where he graduated with a journalism degree. After college he joined the National Guard and returned to the Leon Journal-Reporter where he spent the next 40 years of his life promoting Leon and Decatur county, something his family has done for over 100 years. Gary was always behind the camera at community and sports events -- reporting, recording and photographing the history of Decatur county. On June 10, 1972 he married Bobette Lucille Rippey.

Gary was active in his community -- member of Leon Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, Leon Retail Merchants, Leon Rodeo, Masons, Rotary and Iowa Press Association.

Gary was an active member of the Loving Chapel United Methodist Church in Leon.

Gary was an avid gun collector and hunter. He enjoyed trading with gun "buddies. Through his hunting, Gary respected nature and God's beauty. Gary enjoyed harvesting deer, turkey, elk and pheasant.

Gary was a lifetime member of the NRA. Gary was looking forward to going elk hunting in Colorado with Cody this fall.

Gary was always the last one to come out of the timber. When he wrestled and played games with Corey and Cody, Gary would say, "The day you get older than me is the day you can tell me what to do!" To his grandchildren, Gary was the "Best Grandpa in the world." He helped them with chores. He played ball with all the grandchildren. He helped Mary with her 4-H all the time and told her she wasn't too big to sit on his lap. He snuggled with Mary and Maizee when they were cold, picked up Maizee and helped her across the grass to avoid the "pokey" bushes and held Mac when he fussed -- they would fall asleep together. Lucas and Bree loved their "Papa" and enjoyed playing with him. He taught them how to shoot a basketball and gave them their first "car" -- with Luke at the wheel and Bree on the phone. He was always picking up the kids and carrying them.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents; brother, William Robert Lindsey, and mother-in-law, Thelma Rippey.

Gary loved to see others succeed whether it was in business or school. Gary always put others first and he put himself second just to lend a helping hand. Through the years Gary was a hard worker, lived honorably, thought soundly and influenced unselfishly.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, April of 2015

Decatur Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen