He was born in Spring Valley, Illinois, on April 30, 1949, and grew up in the rural community of Granville. Although he lived the majority of his adult life in California, he cherished his roots and remained an Illinois country boy at heart.
After graduating from Hopkins High School in 1967, Gary took leave from his employment with Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation and enlisted in the United States Air Force. He served in Indochina during the Viet Nam War as an F-4 Phantom mechanic. Subsequently, he was stationed at George Air Force Base, Victorville, CA. While in Victorville, he met Gayle Louise Cooper. They were married on February 10, 1973, and Gary resumed his employment at J & L Steel in Hennepin, Illinois. In June, 1974, they returned to California where Gary completed training and certification in automotive mechanics in San Diego. Gary was head mechanic at the El Cordova Garage in Coronado, CA, for several years. In 1981, he returned to the High Desert where he was employed at Murphy’s Garage in Victorville. He retired in 2012 after working 27 years for the Victor Valley Water District and the City of Victorville water department.
Gary excelled in all things mechanical. He was a true artist with metal, wood, rocks, and brick, always seeing the potential in found objects and raw materials. Creativity and inventiveness were the essence of Gary. If he couldn’t find what he needed, he would invent and build what he envisioned. But his greatest passions were his family and his faith. He will be especially remembered for his unrestrained expressions of love for and fidelity to each member of his family, his friends, his Heavenly Father, and his Savior, Jesus Christ. In return, he was and is loved more than words can express.
Gary is survived by his adoring wife of 43 years, Gayle; beloved daughter and son-in-law, Wendy and Devin Johnson of Apple Valley; four cherished grandchildren, Ty, Brynne, Brooke, and Logan; his mother, Marilyn Kassabaum of Granville, Illinois; brothers Craig (Peoria, IL), Bart (Princeton, IL), Kurt, and Blane (Granville, IL); sisters Patricia Shimmin (Bloomington, IL), Sherry Hastings (Bryan, TX), and Carole Terando (Granville, IL).
Services will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 12242 Navajo Rd., Apple Valley, CA, on November 18, 2016. Viewing is at 9 a.m., services at 10 a.m.
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