Gary M. Basler

Gary Michael Basler was born August 10, 1934, in Mason City, Iowa, the son of Charles and Gayle (Gillespie) Basler-Beckerdite. He grew up in Renwick where he attended school and graduated from Renwick Independent. He went on to attend Drake University and Iowa State University before returning to the Renwick area to begin farming. On January 23, 1957, Gary was called to serve in the United States Army. He served in the chemical corps at Fort McClellan, Alabama. Upon his honorable discharge he returned to the Renwick area to continue farming. On April 13, 1957, Gary was united in marriage to Janice Helmke at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Renwick. After their marriage he continued to farm as well as sell Pioneer Seed until his retirement in 2000. Gary was a people person and loved spending time with his family and friends and also enjoyed watching sports, especially the Cyclones, listening to music, playing cribbage and a good joke or two. He was a member of the Masons, Izaak Walton League, Lions Club and St. Paul Lutheran Church, where he served on the church council and various other area boards. Gary died Sunday, September 18, 2011, at his home in Hu...[more]

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ldt. He was 77. He is survived by his wife, Janice of Humboldt; daughter, Michelle and Gordon Thompson of Renwick; son, Mark Basler of New Orleans, Louisiana; grandchildren, Taylor Thompson of Urbandale and Tanner and Heather Thompson of Wooster, Ohio; brother, Patrick and Arlee Beckerdite of Des Moines and a wealth of extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents.