The family will receive friends from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 8th at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Ames. A Celebration of Life service will follow at 11:00 a.m. Private family burial services will be at Hillside Cemetery in State Center.

Gary Gene Wengert was born to Lamont and Marjorie Hickman Wengert in St. Anthony, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church near State Center. He graduated from Clemons High School in 1955 and Marshalltown Community College in 1957. He was a member of the State Center Legion Baseball team, winning a state championship in 1955, then pitching for the semi-pro Marshalltown Anson Baseball team. Gary was a Yankee and Mickey Mantle fan and loved sharing his baseball life stories. He moved to Ames and began an apprenticeship with Gibbs Plumbing and Heating Company before starting his own business. In 1964, he married Nancene Anderson. Gary was a member of Bethesda Lutheran Church, the Ames Homebuilders Association, Ames Elks Lodge, Ames Golf and Country Club and Cyclone Booster Club.

In 1988, he joined Rhiner’s Plumbing in West Des Moines. He married Mary Dierickx in 1993 and moved to Booneville. Together they enjoyed traveling all over the country visiting their family and friends. Gary loved golfing with his buddies at Veenker golf course for many years.

Besides his plumbing career, he enjoyed playing golf and traveling to golf tournaments around the state and country. His second passion was supporting and cheering for the Iowa State Cyclone football and basketball teams and supporting his grandson’s at Iowa State.

Gary is survived by his wife, Mary Wengert, of Booneville; his daughters, Jennifer (Tim) Lyon, of Dallas, Texas, and Julie Wengert, of Ames; his mother, Marjorie, of Marshalltown; his sister, Marcia (Larry) Nuese, of Marshalltown; three grandchildren and one great-granddaughter; five step children: Jeffery Dierickx, of Hiawatha, Iowa, Julie (Blane) Dohrmann, of Des Moines, Iowa, Jerald (Sheryl) Dierickx, of Marysville, Washington, James Dierickx, of Des Moines, and Joel (Deborah) Dierickx, of Seaside, Oregon; nine step grandchildren and four step great grandchildren as well as several nieces and a nephew.

Gary was preceded in death by his father, Lamont; brother, Dennis and nephew, Pete.

Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown is assisting the family with arrangements. Flowers may be directed to Bethesda Lutheran Church in Ames. Condolences and photos may be shared at www.mitchellfh.com.