Gary E. Beek

MASON CITY — Funeral Mass for Gary E. Beek, 79, of Mason City, formerly of Greene, will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 21, 2016, at St. Mary Catholic Church, 105 N. Main St., Greene, with Rev. Msgr. Walter Brunkan officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Greene.

Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m., Friday, May 20, at Retz Funeral Home, 519 N. First St., Greene, with a Scripture Service at 7 p.m.

Visitation will continue at St. Mary Catholic Church on Saturday one hour before services.

Gary Beek was born on June 4, 1936, in Mason City, the son of Bernard and Esther (Pals) Beek, and passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, May 17, 2016. He graduated from Rockwell High School in 1954 and began working at Deckers.

Gary was united in marriage to Florence Nixt on Feb. 2, 1957, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Greene. They made their life together owning and operating Beek Farms and raising their four children.

He enjoyed checking on the crops by car or by air, having earned his pilot’s license in the 1960’s. Gary loved to visit and greeted everyone with his infectious smile, even if you were a stranger.

Gary is survived by his wife Florence; four children: Diana (David) Pieper of West Des Moines; Rodney Beek (friend Tami Jo) of Wichita, Kan.; Terry (Ruth) Beek of Cedar Falls; and Dallas (Jessica) Beek of Shiloh, Ill.; seven grandchildren: Rachel (Clay) Weaver, Ashley Beek-Farley, Rebecca (Matthew) Horan, Brittany Beek, Colby Beek, Shaun Pieper and Denver Beek; seven great-grandchildren: Brett, Cheyla, Breea, Cole and Bayne Weaver, Adalyn and Easton Farley; brother, Craig (Nancy) Beek of Moline, Ill.; sister-in-law, Linda Beek of Mason City; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be directed to St. Mary Catholic Church, Cerro Gordo 4-H Foundation, 2023 South Federal, Mason City, IA50401, or the Greene Volunteer Fire Department.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Retz Funeral Home, 519 N. First St., Greene, 641-823-4457, www.retzfh.com.

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