Fetter, Gordon 'Gordy' Ray

Gordon “Gordy” Ray Fetter, 58, of Cedar Rapids, died Friday, May 3, 2013. Funeral Services: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 8, at Cedar Valley Bible Church, 3636 Cottage Grove Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, by the Rev. Tom Fogle. A meal for family and friends will follow the funeral services. Visitation: 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids, and also an hour before the service at the church on Wednesday.

Gordy was born Sept. 23, 1954, the son of Frank and Elaine (Novak) Fetter in Belle Plaine, Iowa. He graduated from South Tama High School in 1973, then from Kirkwood Community College. Gordy married Lisa Jackson in 1978 in Cedar Rapids and they had two children, Jackie and Jordan. In 1995, he married Rayetta Dunker Yoder in Marion. Gordy provided loving care and dedication to Rayetta before her death in 2012.

He worked for UPS for 36 years, retiring in 2012.

Gordy was very active and enjoyed staying fit no matter how much he would eat out with his friends and family. He had a great passion for bicycling and was a member of several area bike clubs. He rode in RAGBRAI eight times and recently completed the Copper Triangle in Colorado. He worked out every day and liked his spinning class and scuba diving.

Basketball was a great highlight for him, playing for South Tama and for Kirkwood. Gordy went on to play in the Iowa Games, winning the team title in 1990 and 1991. He was also a National 3-on-3 champion in 1996 with his brothers, Mark and Tom.

Gordy and Rayetta were an integral part of the PAX program, hosting and coordinating events for international exchange students. He and Rayetta developed a close relationship with two students, Juliene Casio, helping her family improve their living conditions in the Philippines, and Norman Bechler, traveling with his family for a month in Europe. He traveled extensively internationally, often visiting and maintaining relationships with students and their families. Gordy also went on several mission trips, including Russia and China, helping to spread God's word. He has been a member of Cedar Valley Bible Church for over 30 years.

He will be remembered for his quick smile and infectious laugh. Gordy will be greatly missed by his family and friends from around the world.

Survivors include his father, Frank Fetter of Toledo, Iowa; daughter, Jackie Fetter of Cedar Rapids; son, Jordan (Sarah) Fetter of Cedar Rapids; stepchildren, Rachel (Mike) Stahley and Jon (Lisa) Yoder; siblings, Tom (Mary Jane) Fetter of Manchester, Mark (Diana) Fetter of Toledo, Shelley (Paul) Ziemer Fetter of Parker, Colo., Doug (Paula) Fetter of Pleasant Hill, Iowa, and Roberta (Sam) Luckel of Solon; former spouse, Lisa Jackson of Cedar Rapids; and many nieces and nephews.

Gordy was preceded in death by his mother, Elaine; wife, Rayetta; his grandmother, Gladys Novak; and several other grandparents.

Memorials are suggested to PAX or Cedar Valley Bible Church.

Please sign the online guest book and share a memory about Gordy at www.stewartbaxter.com.

Published May 6, 2013 in The Gazette