Gordon Marion Zumwalt (1925-2020)

ZUMWALT

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 3/28/2020 at 22:00:30

Obituary of Gordon Marion Zumwalt

Gordon Marion Zumwalt, 95 of Lantern Park Care Specialty Care Center, Coralville, died Tuesday, March 24 after a short illness. A memorial service will be held in his honor at a later date at Gay & Ciha Funeral Home, Iowa City. Burial will be at Mt. Clark Cemetery, Central City. To share a thought, memory or condolence with his family please visit the funeral home website @ www.gayandciha.com.

Gordon was born in Central City on June 17, 1925, to Benjamin and Naomi (Soesbe) Zumwalt. He grew up in and around Central City and Cedar Rapids. He attended McKinley High School in Cedar Rapids. Gordon married Shirley (Slach) Beuter on January 6, 1972. She preceded him in death in 2018. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Philip Zumwalt.

Gordon is survived by his sister, Marjorie Revers of Austin, TX, a daughter, Ann (Larry) Bengtson of Crystal, MN; sons, David Zumwalt of Omaha, NE and Gary Zumwalt (Delores) of Sammamish, WA; stepson, Larry (Margaret) Beuter of Iowa City; eight grandchildren, six great grandchildren, and a number of nieces and nephews. Gordon’s family are particularly grateful for the time and loving attention that his nephew, Brian Revers and fiancée Melissa Mandernach, devoted to Gordon in the last year of his life.

Gordon’s service in the European theater during World War II was the defining experience of his life. As a member of the historic 26th Infantry “Yankee” Division, Gordon participated in the Normandy Invasion, landing with fellow troops at Utah Beach. He went on to engage in the Battle of the Bulge and welcomed the news of the war’s end in a hospital in Bar le Duc, France. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his service during the Battle of the Bulge.

A fine example of the Midwest work ethic, Gordon held a variety of jobs during his lifetime, notably, he retired from Cherry-Burrell Corporation in 1988, after twenty-two years of service. In the 1960s, he launched his own engineering sales and service company: Mar Lin Service, which he operated until 2002. At the age of 75, Gordon achieved a goal that had been suspended for nearly sixty years due to illness and induction into the army: he walked across the stage at Solon High School to receive his High School diploma. Gordon was an active member of the American Legion in both Solon (Stinocher Post 460) and Iowa City (Post 17), where he held a number of positions through the years.

Although he leaves a void that can never be filled, we who knew and loved Gordon are comforted by many happy memories of time spent with him, and our lives are enriched by the wisdom his life exemplified: the satisfaction derived from hard work, the necessity of loyalty to family and country, and the fulfillment that results when life’s challenges are met with vigor, determination, optimism, and hope.