Gary A. Mestad

GARNER - Gary A. Mestad, 62, of Garner died Saturday (September 20, 2008) at his home in Garner.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 A.M., Thursday at the United Methodist Church in Garner with Rev. Keith Scott officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Mason City.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 P.M., Wednesday at the Cataldo Funeral Home in Garner and will continue one hour prior to services at the church.

Gary Allen Mestad, the son of Orval and Trina (Linne) Mestad, was born February 14, 1946, at Mason City. He graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1964. He continued his education at NIACC in Mason City and graduated from Mankato State University in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. On August 15, 1970, he married Merikay Marth at First Methodist Church in Mason City. That same year they moved to Garner where Gary began teaching fifth grade at Garner-Hayfield Community Schools. The next year he moved to seventh and eighth grade social studies. He earned his MSE in Education Administration - Secondary in 1997 at Drake University. He enthusiastically coached both boys' and girls' middle school sports and varsity softball before retiring in 2001. Gary took two softball teams to the state tournament. Sports, especially coaching, was a major part of his life. Gary enjoyed collecting records and CDS, going to the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake and listening to many kinds of music. He was an avid Buddy Holly and St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan.

He is survived by his parents, Orval and Trina Mestad of Clear Lake; a brother, Curtis Mestad of Clear Lake; an uncle, Henry (Donna) Linne of Coralville; and a cousin, Kathy Hanna of Boulder, CO.

Gary was preceded in death by a nephew, Adam Benish.