Garry, John 'Jack'

John “Jack” Garry, 80, of Cedar Rapids, died Friday, March 16, 2012, at Manor Care Nursing & Rehab. His funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Pius X Catholic Church at 10 a.m. Tuesday, by the Rev. Phil Thompson. Inurnment will be at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday from 4 to 6 p.m., with a vigil service beginning at 5 p.m. at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home.

Jack is survived by his wife of 54 years, Mary Anne; his children, Anne of Birmingham, Ala., Steve of Iowa City and Ellen and her husband, David, of Western Springs, Ill.; and his beloved granddaughter, Olivia. He is also survived by his brothers and sisters, Pat, Phil, Rose, Tom, Louise and George and their spouses as well as many nieces and nephews; brother-in-law, Tom Morgan; and sisters-in-law, Mari and Barbara Morgan and Phyllis Garry.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Richard; and brothers-in-law, Bill and Jim Morgan.

Jack was born in Bancroft, Iowa, the third son of Tom and Florence (Sandschulte) Garry. He graduated from Loras College and received his Master of Education degree in counseling from the University of Missouri. He also did additional post graduate work at the University of Iowa and the University of South Dakota. He retired from Metro High School in 1999. Jack had served as their guidance counselor for over 25 years. He had also been a counselor at Washington High School, Kennedy High School and McKinley Junior High School.

Jack was a longtime member of St. Pius X Church and served as a lector and usher. In his younger years he was also very involved in St. Pius X School, having served as president of the board of education and served two terms on the Archdiocesan Board of Education.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Community Health Free Clinic or to Hospice of Mercy.

Online condolences may be sent to www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.

Published March 18, 2012 in The Gazette