Long, Gary (1932-2023)

LONG, RASTRELLI, CURTIS, RUBALCAVA, ENSMINGER

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 3/11/2023 at 09:57:50

Daily Freeman Journal
Webster City, Iowa
January 19, 2023

Gary Long, 90, passed away at his home in Paradise Valley on January 10th. He had been battling Parkinson’s since 2013.

Gary was born in 1932 in Sioux Falls, SD to Percy and Eileen Long and grew up in Webster City, IA with brothers Doug and Bob.

In 1950, Gary left Iowa to serve in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. While in the Air Force he flew 55 combat missions in Korea as a gunner on B-26’s and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters and the Korean Service Medal with two Battle Stars. Following his military service, he attended the University of Iowa on the GI Bill where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1959.

In 1958, he married Carol Rastrelli, a nurse from Clinton, IA who he met on a blind date at the University of Iowa. They have two children, son, John (Suzette) Curtis of Dallas, TX, grandchildren Joseph and Janie; daughter, Kristin (Peter) Rubalcava of Damascus, OR, grandchildren Daniel Rubalcava, and Emily Ensminger (Eric) and great-granddaughter, Lilia.

In his professional career Gary was in the missile and space industry for 11 years working on the Atlas Missile Weapons System and Apollo manned lunar landing programs. In 1972 he moved to Phoenix, AZ and entered the computer peripheral business with Talos Systems, Inc. In 1994 he became President/CEO of CalComp Technology in Anaheim, CA, and retired in 1997.

In 1991 he founded the 90th Bomb Squadron Association-Korea and spent 20 years renewing friendships and sharing memories. A lifelong Hawkeye, Gary served on advisory boards at the University of Iowa for the College of Engineering. When the new Engineering Building was built, he with his wife, Carol, funded and equipped a major classroom and established a scholarship in their name. He attended St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish in Scottsdale and did volunteer work with the Mission of Mercy medical outreach clinic, and St. Mary’s Food Bank. For 11 years at the Mayo Clinic, he combined volunteer service and his love for Labradors as he qualified three dogs as Therapy Dogs. He also took the dogs to the Scottsdale Library for the Reading Therapy Program.

Spending time with his children and grandchildren brought Gary great joy. Each grandchild had a special relationship with him. “Grandpa Moose” was greatly loved. Many trips to Disneyland, August in Coronado, art trips to Santa Fe, and pilgrimages to Italy, Medjugorje, Mexico City, and Spain. Life was a blessing! Gary loved his family, the Catholic Church, his country, Labrador Retrievers, dancing with his wife, and the Iowa Hawkeyes. He will be remembered for his kindness, generosity, and service.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 27, 2023, at Calvary Cemetery in Webster City, IA 50595. Foster Funeral and Cremation Center is entrusted with the services. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Mission of Mercy Arizona (amissionofmercy.org/Arizona) or Guide Dogs for the Blind (guidedogs.com).