Gary L. Karkosh, 85, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, formerly of Reinbeck and Hudson, Iowa, died of natural causes on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at MercyOne Medical Center, in Cedar Falls.
Funeral services at the Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Reinbeck. Burial in the Reinbeck Cemetery. Memorials will be distributed to the Reinbeck Day Care, the UCC of Reinbeck, and the Western Home Foundation.
Gary was born on the family farm near Voorhies, Iowa, on September 10, 1935, the son of Emil and Lizzie (Petersen) Karkosh. He graduated from Reinbeck High School in the Class of 1953. Gary earned a degree in Farm Operations from Iowa State University.
Gary married Marlys Podhajsky in 1958 and they lived in Reinbeck. Gary worked for his aunt and uncle at Voorhies Grain and then at Quaker Oats in Cedar Rapids. He continued in feed work with Allied Mills in the Chicago area before returning to the family farm in 1973, farming with his brother-in-law, Jared Owen, forming K & O Farms. They worked together for many years. Gary retired from the daily activities of farming in 1997, but remained very much engaged with the farm until the end.
In 1997 the couple moved from the farm into town. They enjoyed traveling to Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and participating in several U.S. river cruises. Gary enjoyed fishing trips with his friends, playing cards, bicycling, and gardening. He was an avid Iowa State Cyclone fan.
Gary's true passion was farming but he also gave much back to his community. He served on the boards of the Lincoln Savings Bank, Reinbeck Day Care, Westview, Western Home Foundation, and Black Hawk Mutual Insurance. He was a member of the Lions Club, a charter member of ProFarmer, and a Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier 8 over 80 winner.
Gary is survived by his wife Marlys Karkosh; sons Alan (Sarah), Brian (Tambray), and Kedric (Robin); grandchildren Kyle, Shane, Brody, Seth (Brianna), Lacee (Brandon) Gassman, and Kolin and Alex Karkosh; brother Clayton Karkosh; sister Kathryn (Jared) Owen; and nephews Garrett and Darrick Owen.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Source: Abels Funeral Homes
Funeral services at the Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Reinbeck. Burial in the Reinbeck Cemetery. Memorials will be distributed to the Reinbeck Day Care, the UCC of Reinbeck, and the Western Home Foundation.
Gary was born on the family farm near Voorhies, Iowa, on September 10, 1935, the son of Emil and Lizzie (Petersen) Karkosh. He graduated from Reinbeck High School in the Class of 1953. Gary earned a degree in Farm Operations from Iowa State University.
Gary married Marlys Podhajsky in 1958 and they lived in Reinbeck. Gary worked for his aunt and uncle at Voorhies Grain and then at Quaker Oats in Cedar Rapids. He continued in feed work with Allied Mills in the Chicago area before returning to the family farm in 1973, farming with his brother-in-law, Jared Owen, forming K & O Farms. They worked together for many years. Gary retired from the daily activities of farming in 1997, but remained very much engaged with the farm until the end.
In 1997 the couple moved from the farm into town. They enjoyed traveling to Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and participating in several U.S. river cruises. Gary enjoyed fishing trips with his friends, playing cards, bicycling, and gardening. He was an avid Iowa State Cyclone fan.
Gary's true passion was farming but he also gave much back to his community. He served on the boards of the Lincoln Savings Bank, Reinbeck Day Care, Westview, Western Home Foundation, and Black Hawk Mutual Insurance. He was a member of the Lions Club, a charter member of ProFarmer, and a Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier 8 over 80 winner.
Gary is survived by his wife Marlys Karkosh; sons Alan (Sarah), Brian (Tambray), and Kedric (Robin); grandchildren Kyle, Shane, Brody, Seth (Brianna), Lacee (Brandon) Gassman, and Kolin and Alex Karkosh; brother Clayton Karkosh; sister Kathryn (Jared) Owen; and nephews Garrett and Darrick Owen.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Source: Abels Funeral Homes
Gary L. Karkosh, 85, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, formerly of Reinbeck and Hudson, Iowa, died of natural causes on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at MercyOne Medical Center, in Cedar Falls.
Funeral services at the Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Reinbeck. Burial in the Reinbeck Cemetery. Memorials will be distributed to the Reinbeck Day Care, the UCC of Reinbeck, and the Western Home Foundation.
Gary was born on the family farm near Voorhies, Iowa, on September 10, 1935, the son of Emil and Lizzie (Petersen) Karkosh. He graduated from Reinbeck High School in the Class of 1953. Gary earned a degree in Farm Operations from Iowa State University.
Gary married Marlys Podhajsky in 1958 and they lived in Reinbeck. Gary worked for his aunt and uncle at Voorhies Grain and then at Quaker Oats in Cedar Rapids. He continued in feed work with Allied Mills in the Chicago area before returning to the family farm in 1973, farming with his brother-in-law, Jared Owen, forming K & O Farms. They worked together for many years. Gary retired from the daily activities of farming in 1997, but remained very much engaged with the farm until the end.
In 1997 the couple moved from the farm into town. They enjoyed traveling to Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and participating in several U.S. river cruises. Gary enjoyed fishing trips with his friends, playing cards, bicycling, and gardening. He was an avid Iowa State Cyclone fan.
Gary's true passion was farming but he also gave much back to his community. He served on the boards of the Lincoln Savings Bank, Reinbeck Day Care, Westview, Western Home Foundation, and Black Hawk Mutual Insurance. He was a member of the Lions Club, a charter member of ProFarmer, and a Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier 8 over 80 winner.
Gary is survived by his wife Marlys Karkosh; sons Alan (Sarah), Brian (Tambray), and Kedric (Robin); grandchildren Kyle, Shane, Brody, Seth (Brianna), Lacee (Brandon) Gassman, and Kolin and Alex Karkosh; brother Clayton Karkosh; sister Kathryn (Jared) Owen; and nephews Garrett and Darrick Owen.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Source: Abels Funeral Homes
Funeral services at the Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Reinbeck. Burial in the Reinbeck Cemetery. Memorials will be distributed to the Reinbeck Day Care, the UCC of Reinbeck, and the Western Home Foundation.
Gary was born on the family farm near Voorhies, Iowa, on September 10, 1935, the son of Emil and Lizzie (Petersen) Karkosh. He graduated from Reinbeck High School in the Class of 1953. Gary earned a degree in Farm Operations from Iowa State University.
Gary married Marlys Podhajsky in 1958 and they lived in Reinbeck. Gary worked for his aunt and uncle at Voorhies Grain and then at Quaker Oats in Cedar Rapids. He continued in feed work with Allied Mills in the Chicago area before returning to the family farm in 1973, farming with his brother-in-law, Jared Owen, forming K & O Farms. They worked together for many years. Gary retired from the daily activities of farming in 1997, but remained very much engaged with the farm until the end.
In 1997 the couple moved from the farm into town. They enjoyed traveling to Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and participating in several U.S. river cruises. Gary enjoyed fishing trips with his friends, playing cards, bicycling, and gardening. He was an avid Iowa State Cyclone fan.
Gary's true passion was farming but he also gave much back to his community. He served on the boards of the Lincoln Savings Bank, Reinbeck Day Care, Westview, Western Home Foundation, and Black Hawk Mutual Insurance. He was a member of the Lions Club, a charter member of ProFarmer, and a Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier 8 over 80 winner.
Gary is survived by his wife Marlys Karkosh; sons Alan (Sarah), Brian (Tambray), and Kedric (Robin); grandchildren Kyle, Shane, Brody, Seth (Brianna), Lacee (Brandon) Gassman, and Kolin and Alex Karkosh; brother Clayton Karkosh; sister Kathryn (Jared) Owen; and nephews Garrett and Darrick Owen.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Source: Abels Funeral Homes
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