Gary Reed

Osceola

Gary Lewis Reed, son of Ronald Louis Reed and Linda Lou Reed, was born Sept. 29, 1959, in Osceola, and passed from this life Thursday, June 6, 2019, at his home in Osceola at 59 years of age.

Gary has been a lifelong resident of Clarke County and received his education in Osceola, graduating from Clarke Community High School in 1978. Following graduation, he attended Central College in Pella.

Gary had a great love for farming and returned to Clarke County to fulfill his passion. Over the years, he was a member of Clarke County Cattleman’s Association and Iowa Association of Tractor Pullers.

Family was very important to Gary. He loved the time spent with family and friends and he especially enjoyed mentoring his nephew Justin about cattle and putting up hay, something the two of them could talk about for hours. A lover of life, Gary was passionate about his yardwork, loved all types of sports and was a great athlete in earlier years. He loved his dogs and enjoyed tractor pulling in years past.

Those relatives who preceded Gary in death were his grandparents, Guy Madison Reed and Mamie Fayteen Reed, John Allen and Motta Lena Smith; uncles, Darald Reed, Marian Reed, Robert Smith and Wesley Smith; and aunts, Lavere Smith, Mildred Tuttle and Shirley Ann Hart.

Survivors include his parents, Ron and Linda Reed of Osceola; significant other Irene Betzold of Osceola; stepson Robbi Burchartz and friend Morgan of Omaha, Nebraska; sisters, Jody Legler and husband Art of Brooklyn, Wisconsin, Cindy Reed and husband Merlyn “Bud” Jones of Osceola and Susan Reed and husband, Chris Illg of Lamoni; nephews, Justin Jones, Gavin Jones, Cole (Tara) Page, and Cass (Chelsea) Page; nieces, Madison Gonseth, Alishia (James) Johnson and Nichole Legler; and seven great-nieces and -nephews. Also surviving are his aunt Marilyn Dorland and husband Merrill of Osceola; uncle Dick (Orpha) Smith of Davenport; as well as many other relatives along with his favorite dog Kiba.

Services will be 11 a.m. Thursday, June 13, at Kale Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St., in Osceola with Pastor Marty Burgus officiating. The family will greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 12, at the funeral home. Interment will be in Maple Hill Cemetery. Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.kalefuneralhome.com.