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Garry N. Wells (1926-2011)

WELLS, SYLVESTER, KIRKENDALL, STILES, ALDRICH, DENNIS, DITTMER

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 8/11/2012 at 21:34:47

From Chet Ryan Mortuary obituary, Nevada, Story County, Iowa:

Garry Wells
March 16, 1926 - November 3, 2011

Garry N. Wells, 85 of Nevada died on Thursday, November 3, 2011 at his residence. Graveside memorial services, with military rites, will be held 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 14, 2011 at the Nevada Municipal Cemetery.

Garry was born on March 16, 1926 in Nevada in a house that still stands at 919 3rd Street to Melvin and Lillian (Sylvester) Wells. While his older brother Bruce served in the U.S. Army, Garry, as a 17 year old junior in high school talked his mother into signing the paperwork to let him join the Navy. Garry was assigned to the Armed Guard branch of the U.S. Navy that protected merchant ships in the Pacific. He served primarily on the SS Sharon Victory. Garry's active duty in the Navy from 1943 to 1946 was automatically followed by reserve duty. On November 1, 1947, he was united in marriage with Diana Kirkendall in Nevada. As a reservist he was called back to active duty during the Korean Conflict from 1950 to 1951.

After Garry's military service, he worked for Ott and John Cole in the mower sharpening, general repair and carpentry business they owned. He was a quick learner who was adept with his hands as he quickly mastered the various machines in the Cole shop. This led to his 30+ year career at Ames Laboratory on the Iowa State Campus where he managed the machine shop. He supervised a group of machinists who made the parts and pieces, and sometimes whole, scientific apparatuses for the PhD researchers, faculty, and doctoral students there.

His love of working with his hands to make things found a creative outlet in a hobby of collecting rocks from various parts of the country, particularly Wyoming, Colorado, and South Dakota. He built his own cutting, grinding, and polishing equipment and learned to make beautifully polished cabochons. His work was nationally recognized for its quality. He also designed and made silver mountings for various kinds of jewelry and bolo ties. He built a faceting machine to cut and polish faceted stones, as well.
Garry was a master woodworker. His hobbies served him well in retirement as he continued to pursue them. He was an avid fisherman who made many trips to Canada to fish for Northern and Walleyed Pike. One of his prized catches was a 10.5 lb. Walleye caught in the Des Moines River near Boone.
As young adults, he and his brother and their wives rode the Indians and Harley Davidsons of their era. Later, he bought and lovingly restored a beautiful 1951 Harley. He was a good mechanic as well as machinist and carpenter. With professional carpenter, Wayne Halliburton, in 1954 Garry built the house in which he and Diana raised the family and in which he lived until his death. Garry was also a Past Master of the Nevada Masonic Lodge.

Garry is survived by two daughters, Cindy Stiles and Debbie Wells; three granddaughters, Dana (Dan) Dennis, Jessica (Jason) Dittmer, and Jennifer (JD) Aldrich, as well as great grandchildren Darien and Elizabeth Dennis, Carson and Cameron Dittmer, and Jase Aldrich.

Memorials may be directed to the Veteran of Foreign Wars Nevada Post #2209.

Chet Ryan Mortuary in Nevada has been entrusted with the care of Garry and his family.

http://www.chetryanmortuary.com/
 

Story Obituaries maintained by Mark Christian.
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