Gary Lyle Donlin
July 16, 1935 — September 21, 2008
Gary Lyle Donlin was born on July 16, 1938 in LeMars, Iowa, the youngest of five siblings of William and Lilah (Brown) Donlin. He was baptized at the First Methodist Church in LeMars, Iowa, and at the age of six, he began his first paper route. He graduated from LeMars High School in 1956. He worked in the grocery store and local newspaper as a teenager and played basketball and football in high school. He went on to play football and obtained his BA degree from Westmar (although everyone agrees it should have been a BS degree) and worked on his Master�s degree at University of Northern Iowa.
On August 24, 1958, he was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Sharon Hall, at the First Methodist Church in LeMars. Two daughters were born to this union: Tracey and Kelly. Gary taught business education for thirty-six years in Irwin, Iowa, Gresham and Shawano, Wisconsin, Lake View, Iowa, and ending his teaching career in Harlan, Iowa after twenty-seven years.
Gary�s family was his life and he attended as many of his grandchildren�s events as possible. He enjoyed making frames for Sharon�s paintings, walking his dog, Buddy, caring for his rose garden, and was an avid reader. He loved spending time with his family and touched everyone with his smile and sense of humor.
He was a member of the Harlan Education Association, Iowa Education Association, National Education Association, and the First United Methodist Church. He and Sharon celebrated fifty years of marriage last month with family and friends.
Gary died at his home on Sunday, September 21, 2008, having attained the age of seventy years, two months, and five days. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Jack.
He is survived by his wife Sharon Donlin of Harlan, Iowa; his daughter Tracey and her husband John Schnell of Omaha, Nebraska, his daughter Kelly Polson of Audubon, Iowa; his grandchildren Kayla and Kyle Polson of Audubon; and his sisters Lorraine Becker of Des Moines, Iowa and Evelyn and her husband Roscoe Small of LeMars, Iowa; his brother Dale Donlin and his wife Pat of LeMars, Iowa; nieces and nephews; other family members and many friends.
A funeral service was held on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 11:00 AM with Pastor Dave Swinton officiating at the United Methodist Church in Harlan, Iowa. Serving as casket bearers were Denny Frerichs, Lou Becker, John Schnell, Manny Cardoza, Curt Bladt, and Kent Hall with interment held at the Harlan Cemetery in Harlan, Iowa.
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On August 24, 1958, he was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Sharon Hall, at the First Methodist Church in LeMars. Two daughters were born to this union: Tracey and Kelly. Gary taught business education for thirty-six years in Irwin, Iowa, Gresham and Shawano, Wisconsin, Lake View, Iowa, and ending his teaching career in Harlan, Iowa after twenty-seven years.
Gary�s family was his life and he attended as many of his grandchildren�s events as possible. He enjoyed making frames for Sharon�s paintings, walking his dog, Buddy, caring for his rose garden, and was an avid reader. He loved spending time with his family and touched everyone with his smile and sense of humor.
He was a member of the Harlan Education Association, Iowa Education Association, National Education Association, and the First United Methodist Church. He and Sharon celebrated fifty years of marriage last month with family and friends.
Gary died at his home on Sunday, September 21, 2008, having attained the age of seventy years, two months, and five days. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Jack.
He is survived by his wife Sharon Donlin of Harlan, Iowa; his daughter Tracey and her husband John Schnell of Omaha, Nebraska, his daughter Kelly Polson of Audubon, Iowa; his grandchildren Kayla and Kyle Polson of Audubon; and his sisters Lorraine Becker of Des Moines, Iowa and Evelyn and her husband Roscoe Small of LeMars, Iowa; his brother Dale Donlin and his wife Pat of LeMars, Iowa; nieces and nephews; other family members and many friends.
A funeral service was held on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 11:00 AM with Pastor Dave Swinton officiating at the United Methodist Church in Harlan, Iowa. Serving as casket bearers were Denny Frerichs, Lou Becker, John Schnell, Manny Cardoza, Curt Bladt, and Kent Hall with interment held at the Harlan Cemetery in Harlan, Iowa.
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