Lidtka, Garold "Gary" L. 1919-2008

LIDTKA, SCHULTZ, MCLAUGHLIN, SMITH, WINBURN, MCSPAREN, PAYNE, LONGMAN

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 5/22/2010 at 10:18:14

GAROLD "GARY" L. LIDTKA, 88

Garold "Gary" Lidtka, 88, of Montezuma, passed away Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008 at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines.

His funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 16, at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home in Montezuma with Pastor Virgil Scott officiating. Interment will follow at Ivy Hill Cemetery in Malcom with full military honors given by Blakely-Stevens Post 169. Visitation begins at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 15, at Holland-Coble Funeral Home in Montezuma with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Dollars for Scholars for a career in the aviation industries.

Gary Laverne Lidtka, son of John and Anna Schultz Lidtka, was born July 22, 1919 in Malcom. He was a 1937 graduate of Montezuma High School. In 1942, Gary enlisted in the Army and served in Central Europe as a tank mechanic in World War II. During his years in the military service, he was privileged to work next to Mr. Harley and Mr. Davidson of Harley-Davidson fame. In 1948, he married Ann McLaughlin Smith in Montezuma. Gary and his brother, "Sye," owned and operated Lidtka Brothers Motor Service in Montezuma for many years. After Sye's death in 1988, Gary continued to keep the business going until the fall of 2007. Gary belonged to the Blakely-Stevens American Legion Post 169 and Aircraft Owners and Planes Association (AOPA). He enjoyed his profession and many customers, flying, breakfast fly-ins and coffee time.

His memory is honored by a nephew, Russell (Donna) Winburn of Grinnell; a niece, Karen Lidtka of Montezuma; three grandchildren, Debbie (Rocky) McSparen of Bloomfield, Danny Smith of Drakesville and Denise (Mike) Payne of Bloomfield; eight great-grandchildren; 17 great-great grandchildren and several great-nieces and great-nephews.

Gary was preceded in death by his wife, Ann; a son, Donald and his wife, Jerry Smith; a daughter, Emily Longman; a brother, Donovan "Sye"; sister-in-law, Virginia Lidtka; a sister, Mildred Winburn; brother-in-law, Russell V. Winburn; and two nephews, Keith Winburn and John Lidtka.