TOLEDO-Gary Alan Ramsdell, age 71, of Toledo, died Wednesday, May 13, 2009, at Marshalltown Medical & Surgical Center. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, May 16, 2009 at 11:00 AM at the St. Patrick Catholic Church in Tama with Father Michael Mescher officiating. Interment will be private at a future date. Visitation will be held Friday, May 15, 2009 from 5-8 PM at the St. Patrick Catholic Church in Tama with a Rosary being recited at 8 PM.
Gary was born on November 22, 1937, in Richmond, IN. He was the oldest son of Cecil Charles and Elinor Joy (Boyer) Ramsdell. They moved back to Iowa and Gary attended Toledo Public Schools, graduating in the Class of 1956. He served his country in the Iowa National Guard from 1954-1957.
On September 28, 1957, he was united in marriage to Jeannice Kopecky at the St. Patrick Catholic Church in Tama.
Gary worked in the feed business in Tama and Toledo, and was a hog buyer for the Old Rath Packing Company in the old stockyards in Toledo. In 1966, Gary and Jeannice moved to Dubuque where he worked for the U.S.D.A. as an inspector and the Social Security Administration. They later opened a Maid-Rite restaurant in Dubuque. They retired in 1993 and returned to Toledo in 1998. He was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church where he was a former officer of the Holy Name Society, a charter member and a past director of the Tama-Toledo Jaycees, was a former member of the Iowa Society for Preservation of Historic landmarks and the National Society of Political Item's Collectors.
Gary enjoyed entertaining his grandchildren, golfing, traveling, studying history, and genealogy. He also enjoyed riding through the country in his pickup and stopping to visit with old acquaintances.
Preceding him in death were his parents.
Survivors include his wife, Jeannice Ramsdell of Toledo; six children, Lynette (Ahmed) Shabana of the Chicago area, Lea Ann (Tom Lattik) Ramsdell of Baltimore, MD, Gary Jerome (Lee-Ann) Ramsdell of Lithia, FL, Marcia (Chuck) Smith of Celina, OH, Sara (Tom) Goffinet of Dubuque, and Jay (Shauna) Ramsdell of Gillette, WY; twelve grandchildren; one brother, Brian (Anne) Ramsdell of Toledo; and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial fund has been established.