Waddell, Gary Earl 1959-2024

WADDELL, FEHRMAN, HAMMERS, JANSEN

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 12/22/2024 at 19:43:55

Gary Waddell, loving husband, devoted father and cherished grandfather, passed away Tuesday, December 17, 2024, at Floyd Valley Healthcare in Le Mars, IA at the age of 65, following a courageous battle with A.L.S.

Celebration of Life service will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 28, 2024, at Rejoice! Community Church in Le Mars. Pastor Mike Metten will officiate. Burial will follow at Elgin Township Cemetery, Seney, Iowa.

Visitation with the family present will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 27, 2024, at Rejoice! Community Church in Le Mars. Visitation will resume at 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. on Saturday at the church. Arrangements are with the Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars.

In lieu of flowers and gifts, memorials can be made to his family.
Gary Earl Waddell, the son of Gary Earl Fehrman and Lillian (Hammers) Fehrman, was born on January 10, 1959, in Sioux City, Iowa. When Gary was 7 months old, his father passed away. His mother married Roger Waddell, and he adopted Gary.

Gary grew up on a farm west of Merrill. He attended elementary school in Merrill and graduated from Le Mars Community High School in 1978. When he was four years old, he won the cutest kid contest in Sioux City. At the age of 12, he and his mother rebuilt a 350 Chevy engine. Following high school, he graduated from Western Iowa Tech Community College in Sioux City, with a degree in auto body.

He married his best friend, Kimberly Ann Jansen on December 15, 1979, at Alton Reformed Church in Alton, Iowa. Four daughters completed their family, Tiffany in 1980, Charissa in 1982, Rochelle in 1983 and Chelsey in 1985. Gary and Kim were inseparable. They worked and played side by side until his final breath.

Gary worked at Carl’s Welding, opened Waddell Radiator and Repair, then worked in maintenance and fabrication at Wells Dairy. Gary and Kim opened Northwest Iowa Auto Center in 2005. Gary retired after 18 years due to early onset of A.L.S.

Gary and Kim enjoyed serving at Calvin Christian Reformed Church before becoming members of Rejoice! Community Church. His passion was working on or fixing cars, especially older models. His favorite car was a 1957 Chevy two door hardtop. He had a God given gift to fix anything he put his hands on. In his twenties, Gary enjoyed tractor pulling and was a member of the Northwest Iowa Tractor Pullers Association. He competed in figure 8 racing in Primghar, Iowa. He loved attending car shows and swap meets, as well as camping and fishing.

His greatest joy was his family, especially his children and grandchildren. He loved watching them participate in their many activities. Gary loved his family deeply. Gary was a man of deep faith. To know Gary was to love him. He was a genuine, selfless person who made a positive impact on anyone who knew him. His best furry friend, Maizy, will remember him for the lawn mower and skid loader rides.

Grateful to have shared his life as his wife for 45 years, Kim Waddell of Le Mars; a daughter, Tiffany (Justin) Holman of Bennington, NE, and their children, Jace and Dillyn; a daughter, Charissa (Tyler) Zeimetz of Elk Point, SD, and their children, Jayden, Carson, Kroy, and Remi; a daughter, Rochelle Chapman of Beresford, SD, and her children, Trinity (Jared), Hunter, Brooklyn (Preston), Brek, Presten, Denver, and Blake; a daughter, Chelsey (James) Van Roekel of Merrill, IA, and their children, Landon, Carter, Rian, and Parker; Great-grandchildren, Thea Hughes and one due in February; a brother Dennis (Debbie) Waddell of Jefferson, SD; his in laws, Greg (Becky) Jansen of Alton, IA, Kevin (Nancy) Jansen of Orange City, IA, Valerie (Mike) Weaver of Le Mars, IA, and Joni (Dan) Dziekonski of Sheldon, IA; his uncle Ed (Shirley) Hammers of Emerson, NE; his aunt, Virginia Holt of Duluth, MN; and many other extended relatives.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Gary Earl Fehrman and Roger and Lillian Waddell; his father and mother-in-law, James and Elizabeth Jansen; and his sister-in-law, Gwendolyn (Tom) Jones and many other extended relatives.