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Stamp, Gary 'Coach'
Gary “Coach” Stamp, 65, of Lisbon, passed away Friday, Oct. 21, 2011, at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. His courageous battle with non-smoker's lung cancer allowed him one final season on his field of dreams.
Gary Allen Stamp was born Feb. 24, 1946, in Clinton, Iowa, the only child of the union of L.L. “Jack” and Margaret (Cromer) Stamp. He attended schools in Clinton, Thomson, Ill., and Camanche, graduating there in 1964. He received a teaching degree in English and physical education from Iowa State University in 1969.
Gary taught school for 35 years; coached wrestling, football, baseball, and softball for 42 years. He also officiated wrestling and drove school buses for 42 years. At the time of his death he was coaching his beloved Mount Vernon Mustang girls and driving a special education van for Lisbon Community Schools.
He is scheduled to be inducted into the Iowa High School Football Coaches' Association Hall of Fame on Nov. 18 at the UNI Dome.
Gary loved life, people, and teaching, both on and off the field. He was an avid supporter of the three C's - Colts, Cubs, and Cyclones and was buoyed by the three F's - Faith, Family, and Friends.
Gary married Ava Bruner of Maynard on June 8, 1974. Along with her, he is survived by his sons: Tait (Heather) of Medford, N.J., Quinn of Lisbon and Shea of Hiawatha; daughters: Paige (Kyle) Telecky of Cedar Rapids, and Roxanne (Brent) Roberts of Arlington, Texas; sisters: Jacelyn Petrehn of Overland Park, Kan., and Marilyn Stamp of Illinois; extended relatives, and more friends than he ever imagined.
Gary was preceded in death by his parents, and in-laws, Ronald and Irene Bruner of Maynard.
Services will be held 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30, at Mount Vernon High School, with private family burial at the Mount Vernon Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at Lisbon United Methodist Church. There will be an additional visitation at the Mount Vernon High School on Sunday from 1 p.m. until the time of service. Teahen Funeral Home, Cedar Rapids, is serving the family.
Memorials may be directed to the family.
Online condolences may be left for the family at
Published Oct. 28, 2011, in The Gazette
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