Gari D. Fuller

FULLER, YORK, MILLS

Posted By: volunteer
Date: 2/1/2010 at 08:12:06

Gari D. Fuller,61, of Ferguson, IA passed away Wednesday January 20, 2010, at Marshalltown Medical and Surgical Center in Marshalltown, IA
Gari was born October 1, 1948 to Clarence and Mattie (York) Fuller in Ottumwa, IA. He graduated from Mingo High School in Mingo, IA. He served in the U.S. Army during the Viet Nam War. He was united in marriage to Betty Mills on June 15, 1968 in Bangor, IA. He was employed with Fisher Controls in Marshalltown for 37 years as a machinist, retiring in 2003.
Gari enjoyed writing poetry, old cars, collecting coins, playing slow pitch softball which he participated in, up to a couple of years ago. He truly loved and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. He was an avid Iowa Hawkeye and Oakland Raider fan. Gari was proud to be a veteran.
Gari will be missed by his wife, Betty; two sons, Jeremy (Jenna) Fuller of Tama, IA., Brad Fuller of Ferguson; three foster children, Bill Kelley of Waterloo, IA., Andy Edaburn of Cedar Rapids, IA., Naomi Doran of Marshalltown; six grand children, Kelcy Bond, Mason Fuller, Mackenzie Fuller, Tyler Fuller, Saige Frost, Grace Frost; three sisters, Charlene (Homer) Pate of Houston, TX., Dee (Hod) Johnson of Beemer, NE., Sue (John) Dunlap of West Des Moines, IA; one brother, Chuck (Shirley) Fuller of Spirit Lake, IA.; three sister in laws, Linda Fuller of Melbourne, IA., Leone Jorstadt of Hendricks, MN., and Gini Mayo of Davenport, IA.
Gari will join in eternal life his parents; a sister, Karen Carner; three brothers, Joe, Robert, and Dean Fuller.

A Poem by Gari Fuller

The only thing we looked forward to,

the only thing to keep us sane,
was hoping we'd return to the world

to ride the freedom plane.

We weren't looking for glory,

we weren't looking for fame.
We were thankful to be coming home,

not wanting to be called names.
We didn't want a heroes welcome;

we didn't want a parade.
We didn't know we'd come home

and have to live a charade.
To know our country rejected us

and made us feel it was a sin

to be a returning veteran

because of where we had been.
So no none spoke of their service

and inside it was kept.
The only way to release the horror,

was to those that wept.
For all who have endured the Nam,
on our lives, it left an indelible stain.
We're told we've finally come home,

but it hasn't slowed the pain.