Shelangoski, Gary Robert

Gary Robert Shelangoski, 74, of Yellville, Ark., formerly of Brighton, died early Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012, at his son's home in Cedar Rapids.

He was born Nov. 10, 1937, in Brighton, to Robert H. and Mary E. Deutsch Shelangoski. Gary graduated from Brighton High School in 1957, and from the University of Iowa in 1965, with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He married Donna M. Edgington in Mount Pleasant on Aug. 18, 1988. Gary served in the U.S. Navy, farmed for 10 years, worked as a chemical engineer for Dow Chemical Co. in Michigan and for Reichhold Chemical Co. as plant manager in St. Louis and Kansas City. He retired in 2001 and moved to Yellville, where he was active as a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical responder in the Pine Mountain District. Gary was a member of the St. Andrew Catholic Church in Yellville.

Gary is survived by his wife, Donna of Yellville; four sons, Bruce (Mindy) of Cedar Rapids, Jeff (Linda) of Davenport, Gordon (Mary Lou) of Brighton, and Eric (Angi) of Solon; stepchildren, Roman Edgington (Erin) of Cedar Rapids, Jennifer Brooks (Fred) of Savannah, Mo., and Jeanette Haupt (John) of Avondale, Mo.; 13 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; his mother, Mary of Washington; one brother, Don Shelangoski (Donna) of Springfield, Mo.; and two sisters, Pat Davis (Bob) of Iowa City and Sheila Forman (Paul) of Burnsville, Minn.

He was preceded in death by his father and his brother, Steven.

Gary requested cremation. A memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in East Pleasant Plain with the Rev. Robert Striegel officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery in East Pleasant Plain. Military Honors will be provided by American Legion Post No. 29, Washington, Iowa. Visitation at the church will open at 3 p.m. Friday with the family present 5 to 7 p.m. Prayers for a Christian Wake will begin at 7 p.m.

Memorials to Pine Mountain Volunteer Fire Department or St. Andrew Catholic Church may be left at the church or mailed to the family at 241 MC 8007, Yellville, AR 72687.

Services will be held in Yellville at a later date.

Arrangements are in the care of Gould Funeral Home in Brighton.

Published in The Gazette Jan. 4, 2012.