Rex M. Avery, 94, of Tama, a World War II Veteran, died on Veteran's Day, November 11, 2015 under the care of Iowa River Hospice. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, November 14, 2015 at 10:30 AM at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama with Pastor Warren Riley officiating. Interment with military honors will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Toledo. Visitation will be held on Friday, November 13, 2015 from 4 -7 PM at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama.

Rex was born February 16, 1921, in Montour, Iowa, the son of Ralph F. and Eva Alice (Martin) Avery. He graduated from Montour High School with the class of 1939. Rex attended the University of Iowa for two years, but was a long-time Iowa State fan. He served his country in the US Army Air Corps during World War II. Rex was a waist gunner on a B-24 Liberator bomber and completed twenty-one missions over Germany and Austria before the war ended. He was overseas for six months with the 15th Army Air Force. Rex was united in marriage to Lorraine Brandt on April 21, 1946. He retired from Fisher Controls after twenty-five years of service. Rex also farmed in Highland Township raising crops and every animal with four legs and fur or two legs and feathers. He especially loved raising cattle. Rex enjoyed attending livestock sales at the Tama sale barn and going to the Tama County Fair and the Iowa State Fair. Rex also liked coon hunting and going for coffee at Jiffy South.
Rex is survived by his wife of sixty-nine years, Lorraine of Tama; nine children, Dianne Avery of Marshalltown, Lea (Earl) Schock of New Sharon, Laura (Martin) Christensen of Toledo, Sally (Roger) Dostal of Lincoln, Becky (Mike) Hagerty of Muscatine, Roger (Marilee) Avery of Osborn, MO, Carole (Ken) Damon of Eldora, Stan (Ilona) Avery of Tama, and Alice (Seth) Koch of Tama; sixteen grandchildren, Brian (Stephanie) Dostal, Michelle (Matt) Koch, Kristin (Jay) Dreyer, Sarah (Jurgen) Block, Aaron (Courtney) Schock, Bill Montz, John (Kiley) Hagerty, Tom (Sarah) Hagerty, Andrew Christensen, David Hagerty, Lars (fiancée, Leann Paustian) Avery, Jerra Avery, Clint Damon, Claire Damon, Grant Koch, and Lane Koch; sixteen great-grandchildren; four nephews, and six nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Ruth (Evald) Toft; and one brother Raymond Avery in infancy.
Memorials may be directed to the Ellis Noble Hagerty Fund to cover the cost of his great-granddaughter's CF medical costs, the Epilepsy Foundation to find a cure, the American Legion to help out our veterans, Iowa River Hospice, and the Tama County Fair Association.