Gary Gezel

Gary W. Gezel of Pella, Iowa, died peacefully early Tuesday morning December 5, 2017, at Jefferson Place, Pella.  Gary was 99 years old having just celebrated his birthday on November 11, 2017. 

Gary was the husband of the late Dorothy (Findlay) Gezel who died on September 4, 2004.  Gary met Dorothy on a train to Scotland in 1941, during WWII.  He as a soldier in the US Army and her as a member of the British Royal Air Force.  They were married four years later on December 15, 1945, in Heston, England.  After the war they lived in Pella at 1010 West Third Street their entire lives.

Gary was the son of farmers, John and Kate (Zylstra) Gezel, born in 1918 in their farmhouse, northwest of Pella.  Gary was one of seven children, and attended Bunker Hill School.  Gary said one of their great challenges after school was to sleigh ride from the top of Bunker Hill all the way down to their farmhouse at the bottom of the hill.  Gary worked with his family on the farm until 1941 when he was drafted into the United States Army and served the entirety of WWII in many locations and was honorably discharged as a Sgt. Technician 4th grade, February 1946. 

Trained in auto mechanics in the Army and then taking correspondence courses in auto mechanics after the war, Gary worked for AB VanHouweling as a mechanic for many years both before and after returning from war.  During this time Gary recognized the future and again began taking correspondence courses, this time in radio and TV repair.  He established his own business “Gary Gezel Radio and TV

Service” where he sold new TV’s and serviced and repaired TV’s and radios from his shop on West Third.  He worked at his business until the late 1990’s, and was well into his 70’s when he finally retired. 

Gary was active in the American Legion throughout his life and served in leadership capacities at the local, county and state levels.  He was an active participant in the annual Tulip Time Parade, working on the legion float, installing and maintaining the parade’s public address system and remembered for driving the VFW miniature Oldsmobile replica car in the parade.

He was also involved in numerous civic organizations.  Civil Defense Director, 50's, Chairman of the Draft Board 60's, Historical Society 70's and beyond, Lions, Isaac Walton League, Chairman of Building Board Pella Memorial Bldg, until 5 years ago,  VFW since WWII, American Legion District Commander and Local Commander for many years, Van Veen – Van Hemert post, Pella Chamber of Commerce, won the Community Service Award twice.  Central Honor Flight 1st flight out of Central Iowa to Washington DC.  

He was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy and his beloved son John.  

He is survived by his only living sister Dorothy Mullins of Pella; daughter Lynda (Bob) Sutton of Jamestown, Rhode Island and his grandsons Jay (Nancy) Sutton and great grandchildren Adeline and Tyler, his grandson Larson (Debra) Sutton and great granddaughter Lydia; daughter Janet Sharp of Pella and grandsons Mathew (Jodi) Keske and great grandchildren Madison and Owen; his grandson Cameron Keske; daughter-in-law Sherry (John) Gezel and granddaughters Amy Gezel and great grandchildren Brandon, Cameron, Victoria and great-great grandson James; granddaughter Melanie (John) Rangel and great grandson Jasper.

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