Garry N. Belcher

Garry Neil Belcher, age 77, died Monday, February 13, 2023 in Fonda, Iowa. Military honors will take place Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. on the Buena Vista County Courthouse lawn with a Celebration of Life to follow until 8:00 p.m. at the Moose Lodge in Storm Lake. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the charity of the donor's choice. Garry Neil Belcher was born May 4, 1945, a man of many hats. His mom, Evelyn Nelson of Alta married Paul Belcher of Storm Lake during World War II. Paul was a career Navy man and Evelyn dressed the windows at JCPenney’s in Storm Lake. Garry’s brother, Phil was born the summer of 1947. Garry’s parents divorced and remarried others. They are all deceased. While growing up, Garry loved baseball and riding his bike. You could find him playing in the junkyard, fixing stuff with his Grandpa Clarence Nelson in his garage, or playing with his cousin’s from Alta. While Mom was working, his Granny Nelson was in charge. He also decided while in high school to grow up and do his own things. He moved from Storm Lake to Alta to California and stayed with his dad and step-mom. He graduated high school there. He then came back to Iowa and in April of 1963, signed up for the Army at the age of 17 with the help of his mom, eventually becoming a Green Beret. After Basic Training and jumping out of airplanes and other flying equipment, he was sent to Vietnam. He received a severe brain injury from shrapnel while there. He spent a lot of time in different government hospitals and became classified by the government as disabled. He met Barbara Thul with son, Jason. They were married and a son, Jake was born April 1973. They later divorced. Garry married Irene Peters on December 31, 1981. She had two children: Hope and Sean. A blended family arrived. Garry, Barb and Jason tried to live in Colorado, but work was too difficult for Garry. They moved back to Iowa, and eventually divorced. Garry had custody of the boys. He also helped at Beylis Bargains while the boys were in school. He loved bowling and that’s where Gary and Irene met. Garry enjoyed making street rods out of cars and pickups, and wood working using used lumber. He also learned to be a caregiver of the house and the kids and grandkids while Irene was at work. Many times he enjoyed watching his kids in Little League and other sports, his grandkids in football, softball, baseball, track, and golf. Surviving Garry are his wife, Irene of 40 years; children: Jason (Geraldine) and their children, Evan and Joy Rachael; Jake (girlfriend Jenni) and children, Brooke, Madison, Gavin, Carson, Ryan; Hope (Brian) Anderson and their children; Valorie (Jon) Grundmeir and their children: Harper, Joel and Charlotte; Brad Anderson and Kooper; Sean (Jennifer) Rath and their children: Caaden, Danica, and Xander; extended family and friends. His hats that he wore were baseball, Army, Green Beret, and Cowboy. He loved his kids, grandkids, great grandkids very much.

Garry N. Belcher

May 4, 1945 - February 13, 2023