Gary Darland

GARY DALE DARLAND

Marion

Gary Dale Darland, 77, of Marion, died Wednesday, July 20, 2016, at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids, surrounded by his loving family.

A funeral service for Gary Darland will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 23, at Hauser Funeral Home in Charles City. Pastor Ruth Yeaton from First Baptist Church will officiate. Burial will take place at Riverside Cemetery in Charles City. Family and friends will be gathering for lunch and fellowship at First Baptist Church in Charles City following the burial. Visitation will be held at Hauser Funeral Home from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, July 22, and one hour before the service at the funeral home on Saturday.

Gary Dale Darland, the son of Dale and Vera (Samuels) Darland, was born Oct. 26, 1938, in Oskaloosa. He graduated from high school in Montezuma and obtained his bachelor's degree in engineering at Iowa State. Gary was united in marriage to Susie Kirk and to this union two sons were born, Todd and Tye Darland. Susie passed away in 1990. Gary worked at Metropolitan Utilities District in Omaha, Neb., as a city engineer for Charles City, and then as an engineering consultant and office manager for Howard R Green Company's Charles City office. When the Charles City office closed in 1991, Gary moved to Cedar Rapids, where he continued to work for the Howard R Green Co. as an engineering consultant. In Kauai, Hawaii, in 1992, Gary married Karen Hofreiter.

Gary was a member of the Rotary and Kiwanis in Charles City. He was especially proud when he was appointed by Gov. Branstad to the State Engineering Licensing Board. In Cedar Rapids, he was an Optimist member. Gary was an avid golfer and photographer. He matted and framed hundreds of his photos and took them to art shows. Gary enjoyed being active outdoors and collecting and selling antiques.

Living family members include his wife of 24 years, Karen; two sons, Todd (Diana) Darland of Des Moines and Tye (Cathy) Darland of Atlanta, Ga.; two stepsons, Don Hofreiter of Long Beach, Calif., and Dierk (Cara) Hofreiter of St. Paul, Minn.; one sister, Bonnie Rutheford of Montezuma; seven grandchildren, Jennifer Darland, Matt Darland and Lindsey Darland of Des Moines, David (Julia) Darland, Ben Darland and Christina Darland of Atlanta and Connor Hofreiter of St. Paul; two stepgrandchildren, Irma Malkic and Haris Malkic of Des Moines; along with many friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Susie Darland; his parents; and his sister, Beverly Griffin.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be directed to the Parkinson's Association of Cedar Rapids at 631 Concord Lane NW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52405.

The Hauser Funeral Home, (641) 228-2323, in Charles City is in charge of arrangements.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.hauserfh.com.