Daryl J. Upmeyer

Daryl J. Upmeyer, 70, of Garner died unexpectedly Sunday, April 8, 2018 at Mercy Medical Center – Mason City.

Funeral services will be held 1:30 P.M., Thursday, April 12th at Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church in Garner with Rev. Brian Lund officiating. Burial will be at Concord Township Cemetery with military rites by the Garner Veterans Ceremonial Unit.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 P.M., Wednesday, April 11th at Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church in Garner and will resume one hour prior to services at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Gifford Olson American Legion Post No. 256 or Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church.

Daryl James Upmeyer, the son of Curtis and Anna Mae (Hall) Upmeyer, was born October 4, 1947 in Mason City. He was baptized and confirmed at Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church. Daryl graduated from Garner-Hayfield High School in 1965 and continued his education at NIACC, Iowa State University and Purdue University where he received his master’s degree in plant physiology. While attending Purdue he met his wife, Kathy Johnson. They were married on May 7, 1972 in Texas where he started his Army career as a medivac helicopter pilot. He retired from the Army National Guard in 1994 after 22 years of service.

In 1975, Daryl began farming and feeding cattle and hogs on the family farm north of Garner. He and Kathy expanded their farming operation in 2011 to include a “hobby” farm in northern Missouri.

He was an active member of Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church where he served on the consistory, Henschen Scholarship Board and many other committees. Daryl belonged to the Gifford Olson American Legion Post No. 256 and Garner Veterans Ceremonial Unit. While actively farming, he always made time to share a kind word and a bit of knowledge with his family and friends.

Daryl is survived by his wife, Kathy, of Garner; three children and their families, Ryan (Abby) Upmeyer of St. Louis, MO and their three children, Jane, George and Lucy, Justin (Kim) Upmeyer of West Des Moines and their two children, Madison and Noah, and Angela (Cyrus) Balsara of Seattle, WA and their two children, Azita and Elliott; two brothers, Allen (Jeanette) Upmeyer of Garner and Dale (Linda) Upmeyer of Garner; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant brother, Dorance.