Gary Eugene Stuva

Gary Eugene Stuva, Truro, Iowa, (formerly of Fontanelle, Iowa) passed away on Sunday, July 21, 2019 at the age of 79.

Gary was born on May 5, 1940 in rural Adair County, Iowa. He was the son of Lester and Irene Stuva (Armstrong). Gary graduated from Fontanelle High School in May 1958.

On October 17, 1958, Gary married Sandra Sychra in Orient, Iowa. They had six children, Robert, Roberta, David, Cherie, Roger and Ronald. Gary and Sandra divorced in 1989.

Gary began his long career in the electric industry in 1967 as a lineman at Farmers Electric Cooperative, Greenfield, Iowa. In 1973, Gary started S&S Electric, which specialized in residential and farm electrical work. He went back to work as a lineman in 1976 at Greenfield Municipal Utilities and was promoted to Superintendent in 1977. Gary was named General Manager of Jo-Carroll Electric Cooperative, Elizabeth, Illinois in 1981 and remained in that position until 1986. He also served as General Manager of Clarke Electric Cooperative, Osceola, Iowa and was the Utility Superintendent at Municipals in Bloomfield, Iowa; Gallatin, Missouri and Duluth, Minnesota. Gary retired in 2011, after spending 10 years working for MidAmerican Energy in Des Moines, Iowa.

Even though Gary worked in the Electric Industry his whole life, his favorite job was being a part-time grain and livestock farmer. In his retirement years, he kept busy helping his neighbor Scott Palmer by checking his cattle, electric fences and shuttling Scott around to his different farms.

On December 18, 1989, Gary married Judy Wood. Gary helped raise Judy’s two children, Shelly and Joe. Gary and Judy always enjoyed spending time together, whether it was riding around on the Kubota Side-by-Side or watching an old Western on TV!

His favorite activity was “anything” fishing. He relished spending time with the family, fishing in his ponds or driving the Kubota around his farm checking crops.

Gary taught all his sons how to hunt and fish. During retirement, he annually went deer hunting with his son Roger and grandson Josh.

Gary is survived by his son, David (Robin) Stuva of Auburn, Illinois; daughter, Cherie (Frank) Frieberg of Bellevue, Iowa; son, Roger (Liz) Stuva of Murphysboro, Illinois; son, Ronald (Kathy Jo) Stuva of Springfield, Illinois; step-daughter, Shelly (Dana) Braunschweig of Grimes, Iowa; step-son, Joe (Rachel) Wood of Norwalk, Iowa; grandson, Justin (Kerry) Stuva of Le Roy, Illinois; granddaughter, Whitney (Levi) Chesher of Bloomington, Illinois; granddaughter, Anna (Dan) Oswald of Conrad, Iowa; granddaughter, Erika (Jon) Bach of San Diego, California; grandson, Anders Frieberg of Iowa City, Iowa; granddaughter, Angela (Chad) Epperheimer of Murphysboro, Illinois; grandson, Josh Stuva of Murphysboro, Illinois; step-grandson, Craig Williams II (Ryan Blesse) of Springfield, Illinois; step-grandson, Kurt Williams of Springfield, Illinois; grandson, Cameron (Anna) Stuva of Virginia Beach, Virginia; granddaughter, Katie Stuva of Springfield, Illinois; grandson, Peyton and granddaughter, Justice Braunschweig of Grimes, Iowa; grandson, Parker and granddaughter, Jenna Wood, of Norwalk, Iowa; great-grandchildren, Trapper and Beau Stuva of Le Roy, Illinois; Amos Oswald of Conrad, Iowa; Jordan, Trenton and Dusty Epperheimer of Murphysboro, Illinois; Elsie Joy Stuva of Virginia Beach, Virginia; and a sister, Marlene (Pete) Thompson of Phoenix, Arizona.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents; his children, Robert and Roberta Stuva; granddaughter, Jennifer Stuva; great-grandson, Finn Stuva; and great-granddaughter, Emma Hope Stuva.

Visitation will be Sunday, July 28, 2019 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Hamilton's on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines, Iowa 50266. Funeral Services will be Monday, July 29, 2019, 10:00 a.m. at Hamilton's on Westown Parkway. Burial will be in the Fontanelle Cemetery.

Condolences may be expressed at: www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com. Memorials will be used to establish a Lineman Scholarship in the name of Gary Stuva at Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon, Iowa.

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