Garry Joseph Workman

Garry Joseph Workman lived every day of his life ensuring he did both. The first-born son of Garry and Nancy Workman, his story began on September 26, 1972, in Tacoma, WA. His parents learned quickly that he would make everything more memorable after a complicated delivery threatened his life. Never one to be underestimated, he defied every odd and came home with them 10 days later. This solidified his spot as Momma’s baby, a position he will proudly hold forever. Even as an adult, there was no important decision that didn’t go through his dad’s approval first, and he looked forward to his daily phone calls with his mom.

Garry was born into a military family and was engrained with a love of his country. After being stationed in Washington and Korea, his parents settled down in Muskegon, MI. Garry attended Muskegon High School and was a member of the class of 1990. He followed his dream and enlisted in the US Army shortly after graduation. He spent 8 years courageously serving his country while being stationed in Hawaii and Korea – an experience he was proud to share with his father and Grandpa Art. He often spoke of his time in the military, but his stories always focused on the people he shared it with. He culminated life-long friendships he still held dear to him.

He was a family man at his core, and he never wavered in his commitment to those he loved. He was a proud big brother to Chad and Josh and enjoyed any time spent together. Whether it was fishing, helping with a project, or shooting pool, he was always up for making memories with them. He loved their families dearly and was always eager to celebrate them. He beamed as he spoke of Emily’s kindness, Callie’s compassion, Isaac and Ayden’s natural musical talent, and Ayden Neal’s enrollment in the ROTC and spot on the Big Reds football team. You didn’t have to know them to know exactly what they were up to.

In March 2004, two worlds collided and Garry met the love of his life, Tina England. He was smitten from the very beginning and knew he’d found his forever. He spent the rest of his life devoted to showing her every single day how much she was loved. He was her rock in any situation and took incredible care of her through anything life threw their way. He was all in. On September 14, 2019, she made him the happiest man on earth when, after years of asking, she finally became his wife. The only word to describe him that day is giddy. There is no doubt it was the best day of his life.

Garry became an integral part of Tina’s family as well. He fully stepped in as a father to Tyler. He provided him with unconditional love and support; never wavering in his commitment to him. When Tyler married Nicole this summer, Garry was so proud to stand beside him. He beamed even brighter when baby Eli joined the family in November. He was a phenomenal stepdad to Tina’s four children. They didn’t always make it easy for him to love them, but he did. And he did it well. He was fascinated by Dougies’ mechanical mind, Brandie’s artistic abilities, Shuri’s way with words, and Tya’s ability to find the good in anyone – a characteristic they shared. He loved spending time with their grandsons, Travis, Ashton, and Blaze. He would weather the heat, wind, cold, and rain to be there to support them in all they did. He was always up to help his mother-in-law, Nancy, with any project even if he thought it was ridiculous.

Garry held many titles in life, but none brought him more joy than being Papa to Myles, Mason, Molly, and MaCya. He wore it like a badge of honor. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for “the littles” as he called them. He was their best friend, adventure guide, shuttle driver, babysitter, camping buddy, loudest cheerleader, and biggest fan. You never had to guess which field the boys were on because you could hear Papa a mile away. He could recite the girls’ cheers with them and had gotten pretty good at the moves too. His world revolved around them, and they made a lifetime of memories together.

Honestly, Garry became family to all that knew him. He had his Patio family who got to see him in his wildest days when he helped bring home multiple pool championships. There was his Clover family where he would serve you a mean drink, keep you in line, and let you cry on his shoulder. He had his Shape family that knew he was the most dependable employee both to get his work done and put a smile on your face. To know him was to love him, and he was unforgettable. Which is fitting because he knew the importance of being memorable.

Garry was loud by nature and never did find his inside voice, but it was the only thing about him that fit his large stature. He was a true gentle giant. He loved fiercely. And easily. Garry had an ability to draw people in and keep them laughing. He always seemed to have a smile on his face and was able to find the humor in any situation. You never had to doubt where you stood with him. Whether it was telling you how proud he was or to get it together, he spoke the truth and directly from his heart.

He was loyal to a fault, especially when it came to his taste in sports teams. Never a fair-weather fan, he could always be found wearing a cut-off tee representing either the Tigers, Lions, or Michigan. At least he could always count on his Muskegon Big Reds when the others let him down. He loved music and enjoyed attending rock concerts with his son-in-law, Nick, and bonus daughter, Tabbi. He hated the seats but loved the company. He loved the afternoons spent shooting guns with his son-in-law, Ron, and the walks he would take with daughter-in-law, Lucinda. But his favorite time was spent at “The Property.” He looked forward to weekends spent by the firepit, searching for golf balls, and hunting for mushrooms. This past summer, it became even more fun when he could watch his four-legged baby girl, Maggie, run and play. He loved that dog even though he gave Tina hell when she told him they were getting a puppy.

He was welcomed home to Heaven very unexpectedly on December 19, 2019. There is comfort in knowing he was met at the gates by his beloved Papa Joe, Nanny, Uncle Joe, Uncle Greg, Big Grandma, Grandpa Art, Uncle Mike, father-in-law Danny, cousin Zena, and his friends that were also taken too soon.

It would be impossible to list every person he leaves behind because he never met a stranger. His friends became family, and his family was his life. The world is going to be a little darker without his light shining in it, and everything will be a little quieter without his booming voice in the background.

In respect of his wishes, cremation has taken place. The family welcomes you to join them in a celebration of Garry’s life on Saturday, December 28, 2019, at the Fruitport Eagles from 3 pm – 6 pm. They encourage you to represent one of Garry’s favorite teams for the event, but you can leave the sleeves on if you want.