Gary Vaughn Freeman, age 83, of Marshalltown, Iowa, passed away after a short battle with cancer on June 25, 2023, at the Iowa River Hospice Home in Marshalltown with his family present.

Gary was born on September 9, 1939, to Henry Vaughn and Cora Agnes Cleverly Freeman at Deaconess Hospital in Marshalltown. He grew up in Zearing, Iowa and graduated from Zearing High School with the class of 1957. He was a talented athlete, playing basketball and baseball. He loved to hunt, fish, and trap shoot. He could hit a set of one hundred clay pigeons shooting from the hip and shoulder.

Gary married Gloria Corrine Bravard on April 21, 1962, at the Christian Church in Zearing. Gary and Gloria met as teenagers when Gary was washing cream cans across the street from Gloria's sister Carmen's house. Their family grew as they welcomed daughter Tracy JoAnn and son Kelly Vaughn. Family vacations, horseback riding, and the kids riding their motor bikes were special family memories. Additionally, Gary and Kelly spent hours pheasant hunting and fishing. The annual salmon fishing trip to Wisconsin was always a favorite. Gary and Gloria enjoyed more than 61 years of marriage prior to his passing.

In September 1962, Gary was drafted to the United States Army. He was stationed in Germany during the Cold War. He returned home with his wife Gloria and daughter Tracy in August of 1964. He then served in the Army Reserves on critical standby. He was honorably discharged with a top-secret final clearance in 1968.

Gary was a 45-year employee of Marshalltown Rural Electric Company (REC). He began working as an Apprentice Lineman in 1957. His knowledge and skill allowed him to quickly move through the ranks becoming a Lineman, Line Foreman, General Foreman, Operations Manager, and finally the Manager of Operations and Engineering. He was well respected by his peers and employees. He retired in 2002.

In Gary's later years, he enjoyed golfing, fishing, watching western movies, and occasional trips to the casino. Gary and Gloria became snowbirds in 2016, spending the winter months in Ft. Morgan, Alabama with many special friends. But most of all, Gary loved spending time with his family.

Gary is survived by his wife Gloria; his daughter Tracy (Dean) Tope of Nevada and son Kelly Vaughn (Angela) Freeman of Albia; his grandchildren Dustin (Kinsey) Freeman, Megan (Nick) Mitchell, Eric Freeman, Calyn Tope, Jessica Ferrara, Hanna Freeman, and Alec Freeman; his great grandchildren Braden Miller, Selleck Adkisson, Archer Freeman, Adelynne Miller, Jackson Mitchell, London, Hudsyn, and Maeley Ferrara, and Henry Wilfawn. He was preceded in death by his parents Vaughn and Agnes and his sister Ilene Freeman.

The visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 29, 2023, at Rasmusson-Ryan Funeral Home (1418 Fawcett Parkway) in Nevada, Iowa. A funeral service will follow at 6:00 p.m. Following the memorial service please join the family at the Nevada Legion Hall (1331 6th St) for supper and fellowship. A private burial will occur, at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family.

Rasmusson-Ryan Funeral Home in Nevada is handling arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.rasmussonfh.com.