Grassi, Gary S.

Gary S. Grassi, 63, of Anamosa, died Friday, Feb. 15, 2013, in his home after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 20 at Wayne Zion Lutheran Church, Monticello. Friends may call on Tuesday, Feb. 19, at Goettsch Funeral Home, Anamosa, from 3 until 8 p.m. Pastor Ellery Dykeman will officiate at the services. Interment will be in Wayne Zion Cemetery, rural Monticello.

Thoughts, memories, and condolences may be left at www.goettschonline.com.

Gary was born in Pittsburg, Kan., on Sept. 11, 1949. His family moved to Hills, Iowa in 1960 and later to Coralville. He attended Coralville Schools from 6th to 9th grades and then City High from 10th to 12th grades, graduating from City High in 1967. He attended the University of Iowa for five years. He met and married Sheila C. McCauley in 1978 and they had a daughter, Christena Maya Grassi. They later divorced in 1981. Gary owned and operated the Coralville Kentucky Fried Chicken store in Coralville. Gary met Connie Engelbart in 1988 and they were married Aug. 12, 1989. They have two daughters, Jennie and Katie.

Gary fished the “Red Man” tournament trail, was a pro-staffer for Lowrance Electronics, and carpenter in the Coralville area. He and Connie were Habitat Partners for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, served as a committee member on the Hawkeye Area RMEF Chapter, member of the Anamosa Bowhunters Club, senior member of the Pope and Young Club, B.A.S.S., Wayne Zion Lutheran Church, Iowa Bowhunter Association, Ducks Unlimited, and sponsor and life member of RMEF.

Gary enjoyed fishing, hunting, the great outdoors, sports, was proud to be an Anamosa Raider fan, going to Bass Camp in Minnesota to fish the Mississippi, archery, but most of all his family and friends.

Gary is survived by his wife, Connie; daughter, Christena (Chris) Callahan; grandson, Aidan Callahan, and granddaughter, Rowan Callahan, all of Grant, Fla.; daughter, Jennie Grassi and special friend Lucas Meyer of Wyoming, Iowa; daughter, Katie Grassi of Cedar Falls (attending UNI); two brothers, Ron Grassi of Coralville and Brian (Heidi) Grassi of West Liberty; brothers-in-law, Jeff Engelbart (Teresa) and Russ Engelbart (Penny), all of Anamosa; many nieces and nephews; and his special aunt, Mary Ann Wallace of Kansas.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Gertrude J. (Jensen) Grassi; and sister-in-law Tish Grassi.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Wayne Zion Lutheran Church.

Published Feb. 17, 2013 in The Gazette