Gary Lloyd Frick

July 09, 2019

Gary Lloyd Frick

Service Details

Gary Lloyd Frick, 59, of Ankeny, Iowa, died unexpectedly at home on Tuesday, July 9, 2019. Gary was born April 3, 1960, to Lloyd and Margaret Frick.

Gary, aka Big Gar, graduated from Ankeny High School in 1979 and was looking forward to celebrating his 40-year reunion with his classmates. One of Gary's first jobs was working with his father, Lloyd, at Firestone. He then worked at Pepsi Cola as a route salesman. He once again found himself working with a family member. This time it was his brother Glen. His final employer, PDI, was through the purchase of Sunrise Dairy in 1991. He worked his first 15 years in the freezer at temperatures of 20 below zero. He spent the remainder of his time in the receiving area as a forklift driver. Gary celebrated his retirement with his PDI family on October 10, 2018.

Gary's true love was Sprint Car Racing. Knoxville, Iowa, was his second home. Who hasn't heard him say "Let's GO Racin’." He was easy to find parked between the two large oak trees in the southwest corner of the Marion County Fairgrounds where he would tailgate every weekend. Gary had a saying "Dirt is for racing. Asphalt is for getting there."

Gary really liked to go storm chasing, too! The Iowa State Fair was an annual favorite. He entered various vegetables a couple of times, and it was so cool when he won the purple and blue ribbons. Gary had many lifelong friends and a great life.

Gary is survived by his sister, Lori Frick; his nieces, Tara Frick and Emilee Thomas; nephew, Nathan Frick; and a great niece, Tabitha Anderson; along with loving family and countless friends.

Visitation will be from 9:30-11 a.m. at Hamilton's near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Ave in Des Moines. Gary will be laid to rest at Highland Memory Gardens following the visitation. After the interment there will be a celebration of life at noon, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 517 SW Des Moines Street, Ankeny, Iowa.

Memorial contributions can be made to Knoxville Raceway or the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation.

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