Gary Dean Hardersen

Gary Dean Hardersen, 55, of Lawton, IA: passed away at his home with his family by his side, Saturday, August 12, 2006, after a 6 month battle with leukemia and subsequent stroke. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 15, 2006 from 3-8 p.m. with the family present from 6-8 p.m. a prayer service will then begin at 7:00 P.M. all at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel (formerly Nelson ~ Berger Morningside Chapel). A memorial service will then be held at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, August 16, 2006 at Redeemer Lutheran Church with Reverends David Zirpel and Russell Senstad. Services will conclude at the church following military honors.

Gary was born April 13, 1951, the son of Orville and Mary Ellen (Parks) Hardersen. He lived most of his life in Sioux City and graduated from Central High School in 1969. He joined the 185th Iowa Air National Guard after graduation. He was a mechanic and worked on A-7 and F-16 aircraft. He finished his 37-year career in the Logistics Plans office in September 2005.

He married Darla Frick, on Monday, November 17, 1986, on her birthday. He always said he was the gift that keeps on giving. Plus, he got a kick that she had to buy him a present on her birthday. (Everyone KNEW the real reason was because he had Mondays off at the time!)

They lived in Sioux City for the first 3 years of their marriage, and then moved to an acreage between Salix and Sloan in August of 1989. He enjoyed country living. He tried his hand at baling hay and planting and harvesting corn and beans. They raised pigs and chickens. He had 2 cows he named Sue and Janice- just to give his sisters a good laugh. He enjoyed working in his sheds and anything that kept him busy outdoors. No matter what he did, there was always a good story to tell and a good laugh would come out of it (usually at Darlas expense).

His passion for working with cars led to a couple of seasons of Enduro racing. His first night of racing ended with his car being burnt to a crisp, and having the Sloan Fire Department out to the house to extinguish the blaze before it burnt up the barn, also. Another night Darla rode with him and he was black flagged because he was the cause of one of the biggest wrecks there was at the track that night. Guess he figured if his car was going to go out of the race, he may as well take a few others with him. Even though his racing career was short-lived, it was the topic of many good stories.

Eventually, he started buying and selling cars. That led to a partnership with his great friend, Curt Hinkel in H&H Auto in South Sioux City, NE. This was his retirement dream job. He would even hand out business cards to his nurses in St. Lukes. He was always trying to sell someone a car or work out a good deal for them.

Another lifelong dream was to build a new house on a small acreage with a huge shed. He was able to fulfill that dream by moving into their new house in August 2005. It was short lived, but he enjoyed each and every minute he was there.

Gary is survived by his wife Darla, their 2 children, Troy Frick and his wife Rose, of Sioux City, Susan Crabtree and husband David Crabtree of Colorado Springs, CO: 2 sisters, Sandra Sue and her husband Roger Kluender of Moville and Jan Dandurand of Sioux Falls, SD. He was blessed with 9 grandchildren, Kennedy and Malea of Colorado Springs, CO: and EmberRose, Jouhara, Amir, Skyler, Elizabeth, Brandon and Christian of Sioux City. He is also survived by 5 nieces and nephews and their families, several cousins, aunts and an uncle.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his aunts, Pauline (Parks) Epling and Betty (Parks) Chamley, his uncles Dennis Russell Parks, Earl Epling, Adrian Hardersen, and a cousin, Chipper Jay Epling.

Gary lived his life to the fullest. He was continually making people laugh either by his jokes, or his wisecracks. He was never at a loss for something funny to say. He was the life of the party and will be sadly missed by his family, friends and anyone who was ever lucky enough to have known him.