HARTER, Gary A. (1938-2020)

HARTER

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 1/29/2021 at 12:25:30

Gary A. Harter
(July 23, 1938 – October 25, 2020)

IDA GROVE – An event for Gary A. Harter, 82, of Ida Grove was held Saturday, July 24, 2021, at the Ida Grove Golf and Country Club in Ida Grove. Per Gary’s wishes, cremation has taken place, and no services were held at that time. Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home in Ida Grove was in charge of arrangements.
Gary was born July 23, 1938, to Guy and Eloise (Erixon) Harter at home in Harrison County. Growing up in the Loess Hills with his extended Harter and Erixon families provided many happy memories and life lessons of hard work and simple pleasures. His early education was in country school. He graduated from Pisgah High School in 1956. He attended Buena Vista College and received his bachelor of arts degree in 1960. He furthered his education with graduate courses at Loras College. Gary married Krystal Martin; they were parents of Kevin Lee, Craig Martin and Jill Anna. On Feb. 10, 1978, he married the love of his life, Jayne (Lashier) Kollbaum, and added Todd Edward and Heidi Marie to the family. Their union was blessed with the birth of Sara Jayne. From 1960-1963, he was a high school teacher and coach in Urbana. He then taught and coached and became high school principal in Lost Nation from 1963-1969. In 1969, he moved to Ida Grove and was the high school principal. Gary owned and operated Harter’s Sporting Goods in Ida Grove from 1970-1971. In 1971, he became administrator of Morningside Care Center, where he served for 37 years, before retiring in 2008. During that time, he acted as adjunct instructor in the long-term care administration program at Des Moines Area Community College and also mentored numerous administrators in training. From 2008–2015, he provided long-term care consulting and served as interim administrator in several facilities. Gary was proud to call Ida Grove home and was very active in the community which he loved so dearly. He was a faithful member of First United Methodist Church. He served in numerous capacities in Jaycees, Kiwanis and Ida Grove Golf and Country Club. He died Oct. 25, 2020, at Horn Memorial Hospital in Ida Grove.
He is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Jayne; and his children: Kevin Harter (Jangir Sultan) of New York, N.Y.; Craig (Sara) Harter of Park Ridge, Ill.; Jill (Bradd) Schulke of Cedar Crest, N.M.; Todd (Angela) Kollbaum of Madison, Neb.; Heidi (Bart) Nieuwenhuis of Sierra Vista, Ariz.; and Sara Faas (Mike Thorson) of Minneapolis, Minn. Also surviving are his brothers: Harlan Harter and Wrex (Mary) Harter, all of Omaha, Neb., and Mike (Marla) Harter of Fairbank; and his sister, Patti (Mike) Crozier of Plano, Texas.
Sources: Ida County Courier, Ida Grove, Iowa, Mon., Oct 26, 2020 and Christensen-VanHouten Funeral Services, Ida Grove, Iowa at http://www.christensenvanhouten.com/