A celebration of life for Gary will be held on September 14 at the old Garwin grocery store at 1:00 p.m. under the direction of his family. The family encourages those in attendance to come dressed casually or wearing Iowa Hawkeye or Green Bay Packer apparel. Memorials in Gary’s name may be directed to his family. For more information or to send a condolence please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call (641)844-1234. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Gary and his family.

Gary Howard Edwards was born on November 2, 1942, to parents Harold and Edith (LeFever) Edwards in Toledo, Iowa. He grew up attending school in the Toledo school district through his junior year until transferring to Tama school district and graduating in the class of 1960. Shortly after high school Gary met his beautiful bride Ardeena “Deena” Sliekers and the two were united in marriage on June 2, 1962, at the Toledo Methodist Church. The two raised 3 beautiful children together.

Gary worked as a machinist at Fisher Controls for over 35 years and then worked as a school bus driver for GMG school district for over 10 years. In his free time, he was a member of the Garwin Fire Department for over 25 years, a member of the Garwin City Council, Tama County I club and a member of the “Garwin Safety Committee.” When not busy with those activities he enjoyed horses and horseback riding, hunting, fishing, camping, telling jokes, watching western films, attending social hours at the Garwin Bull, and he was an avid Iowa Hawkeye and Green Bay Packer fan.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife Deena; children Bradley (Antonella) Edwards, of Garwin, IA, Todd (Anthony) Edwards, of Wadsworth, IL, and Stacey (Christopher) Duden, of Garwin, IA; grandchildren: JoAnna, Clinton, Elee’, Brandon, Carl, Scott, Abigail, Levi and Kaylea; 2 great-grandchildren; and brother Lyle “Pete” Edwards.

In death, Gary rejoins his parents Harold and Edith Edwards and his brothers Melvin and Wayne Edwards.