Gary Schwarting
July 06, 2012
Gary Lee Schwarting, 64, of Ankeny, Iowa, went home to be with Jesus on Friday, July 6, after a courageous 14-month battle with pancreatic cancer. He fought the good fight, and received treatments at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines and Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He bravely volunteered for a Clinical Trial at Mayo to help find a cure, often saying, “Maybe this will help other people in the future.”
Gary was born on November 25, 1947, in Williamsburg, Iowa, to Harold and Shirley Schwarting. He attended Immanuel Lutheran Parochial School in Williamsburg through 9th grade, Williamsburg High School, and AIB in Des Moines, Iowa. After graduating from AIB, he joined the U.S. Army Reserves, 103rd Support Brigade.
On September 8, 1968, he was united in marriage to his wife, Janice (Jan). Gary was a devoted employee for 45 years with Iowa Paint/Pittsburgh Paint (PPG). During his employment he was given many opportunities, including store manager and territory salesman.
Gary was an active member of Our Saviour Lutheran Church, where he enjoyed serving on numerous committees and loved spending time with congregational friends in different activities. He loved the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Chicago Bears – especially when the Bears beat the Packers. Gary enjoyed yearly fishing trips to Canada, hunting, mowing friends’ lawns, and painting. He especially loved spending time with his twin grandsons – not only being their grandpa, but also a Christian mentor and friend. They shared lots of laughter and fun together.
He is survived by his wife, Jan of 43 years; daughter, Ashley (Joel) Ott; twin grandsons, Kyle and Eric of Ankeny; sister, Donna (Bruce) Lundeen of East Moline, Illinois, and brother, Rick (Barb) Schwarting of Atkins, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Shirley Schwarting.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., Monday, July 9, 2012, at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, 4003 2nd Avenue, in Des Moines. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, July 10 at the church, with burial to follow at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Mercy Hospice in loving memory of Gary.
Online condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Donna Mustaine
07/08/2012
Gary is at home with Jesus and other loved ones that went before him. He fought a hard battle and kept the faith. May God bless each member of his family and give you comfort. I am in GirlFriends and God with Barb at St. Marks UMC and we have all been praying for each of you for some time and will continue to pray for his family. I am also a friend of Rick. God Bless!
Bill Huckaby
07/08/2012
Jan and Family,Myself and the
Kids send our thoughts and prayers to each one of you.Hug yourseleves.This one is for The Cubbie-Man BOW-WOW!
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Vicki Miller
07/08/2012
Ashley, I am so very sorry for your loss. Your sincere faith and all the wonderful memories will help you. I will help in any way I can.
Brea McCullough
07/08/2012
You are so blessed to have experienced such a wonderful husband, father and grandfather in your life. Gary was a committed family man and led by example for his young grandsons! Thinking of you always!
Heather McAllister Carlson
07/07/2012
Janice and Ashley, I am so very sorry for your loss. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.