Gary L Louvar

Gary L Louvar

Houston, TX

Gary Lee Louvar, PGA Golf Professional, formerly of Cedar Rapids, Iowa passed away in Houston, Texas on January 16, 2025, after a 6-year battle with kidney cancer.

Gary was born on March 30, 1951, in Cedar Rapids to Richard Paul and Frances Edna (Coufal) Louvar. He graduated from John F. Kennedy Sr High School in 1969, was co-captain of the varsity football team and earned all-city, conference, and state honors. He graduated from Upper Iowa University in 1973.

Gary built the original 9 holes of Northbrook Golf Course (now St. Andrews Golf Club) in Cedar Rapids during 1967-1969 along with his parents and brother. After college graduation, he became an educator, assistant varsity football coach and head 9th grade wrestling coach at Linn Mar High School. Gary and his wife, Kathy, then leased and operated the St. Andrews golf facility for 10 years. He later served as the PGA Golf Professional at Reid Municipal Golf Course (Appleton, WI), Tara Hills and Indian Creek Country Clubs (Van Horne/Marion, Iowa), followed by a 25-year tenure at all four of the City of Cedar Rapids golf courses. He retired in 2015.

Gary was honored to be an Eagle Scout, a 45-year member of the PGA of America, President of the Iowa Chapter of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and received the Iowa Junior Golf Leader Award and the Bill Strausbaugh Award from the Iowa PGA. A dedicated volunteer, Gary taught golf to veterans through the GIVE Foundation and helped to secure new sets of golf clubs for veterans.

He cherished annual golfing trips with friends, organizing and hosting various golf tournaments and leagues, playing St. Andrews in Scotland with his son, watching “White Christmas” every year with his daughter, and enjoying time with family, friends and fellow golfers. He was an amazing man, friendly to everyone and the best husband, father and grandfather. As so many have said over the years...to know him is to love him!

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Kathy (Floyd), their children, Dr. Melissa Reeves (Shawn) of Loveland, CO and Kyle (Nicole) Louvar of Houston, TX; grandchildren, Austin Reeves, Denver, Colorado, Taylor Reeves (fiancée Dirk Nelson) of Ft. Collins, CO, Blake and Reese Louvar of Houston, TX, and brother, Dr. Richard Louvar (Barbara) of Cedar Rapids.

Gary is a member of St. Johns United Methodist Church in Richmond, TX.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, April 19 from 2- 6 p.m. at the Hiawatha Community Center, 101 Emmons St., Hiawatha, IA. Memorials in Gary’s honor may be made to Houston Hospice, 1905 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030 or: https://www.houstonhospice.org/ways-to-give-back/ Cards may be sent to: 414 Seaside Sparrow Way, Richmond, TX 77469