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Sheetz, Gary Eugene
Gary Eugene Sheetz, 71, of Irvine, Calif., formerly of Cedar Rapids, died Monday, Dec. 21, 2009, at Hoag Memorial Hospital in Newport Beach, Calif. of a brain aneurysm. No services are planned.
Gary was born Sept. 11, 1938, in McGregor to Donald and May (Yenser) Sheetz. After graduating from Austin High School in Minnesota, he enrolled in the Marine Corp and was stationed in San Diego for two years. On March 9, 1963, Gary married Carol (Downing). They had four children together, Mark, Scott, Susan and Shelley. They later divorced. Then on Sept. 9, 2006, he married Kay (Jacobson) of Irvine, Calif.
Gary spent most of his working years in the meat packing plant industry. He worked for Hormel's in Austin, Minn. and Beloit, Wis. Later, he worked for Wilson Foods in Albert Lea, Minn. and finally in Cedar Rapids. Gary eventually retired from Quality Chef Foods in Cedar Rapids in 2002.
In Gary's early life, he enjoyed hunting and fishing with his dad and friends. He also enjoyed golfing and watching his children and grandchildren participate in their many activities. When he moved to California, he quickly adapted to the lifestyle of t-shirts and shorts. He loved to entertain his neighbors with his jokes and many stories. Gary and his wife, Kay, also enjoyed traveling to visit family and friends.
Gary is survived by his wife, Kay of Irvine; two sons, Mark Sheetz of Thornton, Colo. and Scott Sheetz and his wife, Kim, and their daughters, Kennedy and Lilly, of Longmon, Colo; two daughters, Susan Hayes and her husband, James, and their sons, John and Samuel, of Broomfield, Colo., and Shelley Sheetz of Denver, Colo.; one stepson, Scott Grimsgaard and his wife, Monica, and their sons, Torre and Dante, of Fullerton, Calif.; and his brother, Roger, and wife, Jeannie, of Lake of the Hills, Ill. He also will be missed by many nieces and nephews and many friends.
Gary was preceded in death by his father, mother, and sister, Donna Arnold.
Remembrances may be made in the form of donations to the American Heart Association (americanheart.org) or Caring Bridge (CaringBridge.org).
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