CANNY, Gary L. (1938-2020)

CANNY

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 7/2/2022 at 22:11:59

Gary Lee Canny
(December 24, 1938 - July 6, 2020)

Gary Canny, 81, of Carlisle passed away peacefully with his loving wife, Lee, and other family by his side at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa on July 6th, 2020.
Gary was born on December 24th, 1938 in Ottumwa, Iowa to parents Ruth and Leonard Canny. Gary was the second oldest of 8 children who all grew up in Ottumwa, Iowa on South Fellows Avenue. After attending Ottumwa High School, Gary joined the United States Navy and was stationed alongside his brother Larry at Patuxent Naval Base, where he worked the steam launch catapults and other roles from 1957 to 1960. After returning to Ottumwa, he married the love of his life, Leola Saner, on May 14th, 1960 and this year they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. After his time in the Navy and a few odd jobs, he returned to school and earned an associates degree in information technology from Iowa Tech-Area XV Community College (Indian Hills). With this schooling, he spent most of his career as a mainframe computer IT specialist in the Des Moines area. In retirement, Gary worked part time as a range officer at the Banner State Park Shooting Range, a role he greatly enjoyed, for 10 years before fully retiring. Gary loved spending time with family and friends at the acreage outside of Carlisle often hosting holidays, BBQ’s, and the legendary Canny 4th of July pool parties, I am sure many of you partook in. Other hobbies included taking care of the various animals we have had over the years from dogs, cats, and chickens to the family race horses and even a black fur goat (long story but a favorite joke of his was the misunderstanding on the black fur “coat” Lee requested for Christmas one year). In his free time, he enjoyed playing guitar, a hobby he dabbled with for 30 plus years, on and off but really became quite good the last 5 years or so. He also enjoyed just mowing the yard, growing a garden, or growing giant 15ft tall sunflowers just for fun. Gary was very handy and was always doing a project or fixing something around the house over the 40 years they resided at the acreage. Some notable projects were the two story barn, large in ground swimming pool, and completely rebuilding the house after the fire in 2000.
Son, Brother, Husband, Father, Grandpa (Papa), Friend, Coach, Instructor, Role Model for many; Gary was a lot of things to a lot of people, a sign of a life well lived. He is and will be greatly missed, always loved, and never forgotten, may he rest in peace.
Gary is survived by his wife, Lee; four children, Karry Grant of Des Moines, Todd (Jana) Canny of Johnston, Brent (Cassandra) Canny of Des Moines, and John (Mariah) Canny of Cedar Rapids; nine grandchildren, Nicole, JR, Alex, Jessica, Taylor, Brandon, Connor, Nate, and Lyla; and four great-grandchildren, Mylee, McKenna, Jaxton, Presley.
At Gary’s request there will not be a visitation or funeral service but a celebration of life will be held at the family farm in the near future.
In lieu of flowers, Gary requested that donations be made in his name to the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. This memorial is provided by Overton Funeral Home, 501 West Ashland Ave., Indianola, Iowa, http://www.overtonfuneral.com/