Gary Lee Taylor

Rock Rapids, IA 

 Gary Taylor, age 67 of Rock Rapids, IA, died Sunday, August 18, 2024, at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, SD. 

  Funeral service will be 10:30 AM, Friday, August 23rd, at The Rock Church in Rock Rapids, with Pastor Travis Remme officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in Rock Rapids. 

  Visitation will be Thursday, August 22nd from 4:00 to 7:00 PM, with family present from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids. 

  Gary Lee Taylor was born March 15, 1957, in Rensselaer, IN, the son of Robert and Arlene (Mitchell) Taylor. He graduated from Rensselaer High School in 1975. He then worked in various agricultural positions until 1986, when he enrolled at Purdue University, receiving his bachelor's degree in Agricultural Economics. He continued at Michigan State University where he completed his master’s degree and finished at Oklahoma State University with his doctorate degree. His first position was at Louisiana State University, where he conducted research. He then moved to Morrisville, New York, where he taught at State University of New York. He finished his teaching career at South Dakota State University. While there, he conducted research for various commodity groups, showing the impact they had on the state’s economy. He retired in 2017, after 18 years of teaching. 

  Gary was united in marriage to Julie Tolvstad on February 14, 2008. Together they made their home in Rock Rapids, IA. 

  Gary was a member of the Rock Community Church (formerly the United Methodist Church) in Rock Rapids, IA. He enjoyed walking, watching old westerns, and spending winters at the couple’s home in Citrus County, Florida. 

 Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Julie Taylor of Rock Rapids, IA; five children: Elizabeth Taylor of Frankfort, IN and her children, Mosiah and Liam; John (Kim) Taylor, and their children, Jeff and Kira, of George, IA; Sarah (Alex) Hine, and their children, Roran and Callahan, of Zionsville, IN; Michael Taylor of Frankfort, IN and Kalena Miller (Jonathon Patillo) of Las Vegas, NV; siblings, Terry (Kurt) Spurgeon of Glendale Heights, IL, Jerry Taylor of Brook, IN, Marcia Patrick of Brook, IN, Lesa Taylor of Rensselaer, IN, and David (Wendy) Taylor of Richland, IN; and many nieces, nephews and other extended family. 

  He was preceded in death by his parents, a grandson, Scott Lee Taylor, and brother-in-law, Brian Patrick.