Chet H. GARTH

GARTH, SMITH, CARROLL, KNOPF, DILLAVOU, NOVY

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 5/27/2013 at 15:01:29

March 21, 1931 --- October 12, 2002

Chet H. Garth, 71, of 1200 10th Ave. N., Clear Lake, died Saturday, Oct. 12, 2002, at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa. There will be a private family gathering at Memorial Park Cemetery, following Chet's wishes. Memorials may be sent to the Garth Family at 1200 10th Avenue N., #23, Clear Lake, Iowa, 50428.

Chet was born March 21, 1931, in Clarion, Iowa, the son of Harold and Hallie (Smith) Garth. In 1939, Chet's family moved to Clear Lake where he attended Clear Lake Public Schools and worked at Witke's Restaurant. After graduating from Clear Lake High School in 1949, where he earned all-conference honors in football and basketball, Chet briefly attended Hamline University in Minneapolis, Minn. before enlisting in the Unites States Navy. While in the Navy, Chet served on the USS Yorktown and was stationed in Japan where he played basketball, representing the United States in the Far East. Chet was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1954 and completed his education at Fort Dodge Junior College. In 1960, Chet moved to Green Bay, Wis. as district manager for New Idea farm equipment and became an avid Packers fan. Chet returned to Clear Lake in 1970 when he became the owner of Witke's with his brother, Dick. He later left the restaurant and owned and operated Western Auto Hardware. Chet also worked at Zeidler's Concrete in Clear Lake, P.I.M. in Fertile, and retired from C. F. Industries in Garner, in late 2000 due to health problems.

Chet was married to Delores on Dec. 18, 1983 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Chet enjoyed his family, grandchildren, friends, playing cribbage, shooting pool, the Packers (including attending Super Bowl XXXI), westerns, and participating in and watching various sports.

He is survived by his wife, Delores; his children, Greg, and his wife, Denise Garth and children Josh and Jasmine of Omaha, Neb., Mark, and his wife, Paula Garth and children Paul and Katie of Omaha, Neb., Gary, and his wife, Lori Garth and children Brenna and Lacy Garth, Jason and Scott Carroll of Des Moines, Debbie Garth of Nashua, N.H., David and his wife, Michelle Garth and children Tori, Amanda, and Samantha of Kingsland, Ga.; stepchildren, Greg and his wife, Shari Knopf and children Kendra, Nick, Dylan, Amber and Spencer of Clear Lake, and Valerie and her husband, Tom Dillavou and children Travis and Curtis of Lake Mills, Iowa,; a brother, Dick, and his wife, Bunny Garth of Mason City; and a sister, Mary Lou, and her husband, Russ Novy of Northbrook, Ill. Chet was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Hallie Garth; son, Steven Garth; and step-grandson, Derek Knopf.

Mason City Globe Gazette - Iowa
October 14, 2002