Gary W Leusink

NOTICE: Sibley, IA

     Gary Leusink age 72 of Sibley, Iowa died Sunday, January 31, 2021 at Select Specialty Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

     Memorial service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, February 8, 2021 at the First Reformed Church in Sibley, IA, with Pastor Josh Lucus officiating.

     Visitation will be Sunday, February 7^th from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the First Reformed Church in Sibley with family present.  Social distancing guideline will be followed.

     Gary Wayne Leusink was born July 6, 1948 in Prosser, WA to Morris and Gertrude (Meendering) Leusink. At the age of 2 his family moved to Iowa where he stayed and grew up. He attended Orange City Christian, and Hull Western Christian school where he drove bus to pay for his tuition. He went on to a 2-year technical college in Sioux City.

     On September 8, 1967 he was united in marriage to Wilmina Van Beek at the Calvary Christian Church in Orange City.   In 1968 he was drafted into the US Army. He was sent to Fort Louis, WA for basic training. During basic he suffered a broken elbow and after healing up from that injury he was blessed with going though basic again.   Probably not many can say they had the fortune to go through basic training twice. But then on to Fort Ruckers, AL where he worked on Helicopters. He then shipped to Bamburg, Germany where he operated tanks. Gary attained the rank of E5.

     He worked as an over the road trucker until his heart attack in 1994. He then drove forklift at Exopack until his “retirement”. He kept driving truck part time and his last year was spent as camp host/groundskeeper for the DNR at Marble Beach. Gary and Wilma loved to camp and did so at many different campgrounds. They made many wonderful friends over the years.

     Gary loved his family. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren were so special to him. His favorite time of year was Christmas when family would all come home. They all enjoyed the fun and laughter of being together. He enjoyed camping, reading, building bird houses, especially martin houses, fishing, and always had his eyes peeled for Bald Eagles. He loved watching the large, beautiful birds. Gary also loved ice fishing. He always wore cowboy boots, and a favorite family story is the time his ice hut didn’t want to stay put in a terrible wind out on the lake. Gary was trying to hold it back and get it tied down when he ended up scooting across the lake with an ice hut acting like a sail. Salmon fishing in Wisconsin was another favorite thing to do and there is a story of leaving the plug out of the boat. He was not one to sit still and he loved adventures and loved to travel. Gary did a lot of living in his 72 years, and his loving family was certainly not ready to let him go. He will be greatly missed and so fondly remembered. Gary was a member of the First Reformed Church in Sibley.

     Gary is survived by his wife of 52 years, Wilma Leusink of Sibley, IA; son, Jimmy Leusink of Sibley; daughters, Tammy Breitweiser of Sibley; Dawn (Stephen) Smith of Sibley; Janet (Donald) McFarlane of Edgerton, WI; grandchildren, Jacob Leusink and fiancé Kathryn, Jessica Leusink, Emma McFarlane, Hailey Leusink, Andrea Leusink; great-grandchildren, Kynlee Leusink, Gavin Leusink, Celaena Leusink, Bentley Semrow and Troy Karlson; sister, Helen Ohler of Grand Rapids, MI; brother, Dale (Karen) Leusink of Orange City; in-laws, Agnes Miedema of Rock Valley, Albert (Vicki) Van Beek of Rock Valley, Klaas Van Beek of Sioux Center, Gertrude Gaalswyk of Sibley, Henrietta (Loren) Kots of Rock Valley and Gerrit (Deb) Van Beek of Rock Valley; many nieces, nephews and other extended family members.

     He was preceded in death by his parents, Morris and Gertrude Leusink; brother-in-law, Lyle Ohler; in-laws, Chuck Miedema, Trudy Van Beek, Stanley Gaalswyk.