Gary DeWaard was born June 11, 1932, son of Peter and Sadie (Beninga) DeWaard in rural Kanawha.  He attended country schools and high school through sophomore year.  In 1953 he married Mary Lou Christians.  He also served his country in the Army during the Korean Conflict. He was a member of the Wright Christian Reformed Church all of his life.  He was actively involved with the church council, Sunday school teacher, and numerous other church activities.  HE was also a very strong supporter of the local Christian school.  He was involved in his community.  He served on the city council and was always interested in bettering his community.  Though he suffered poor health over the past years he always trusted the Lord. He is survived by his wife, Mary Lou, four sons: David and his wife, Pam, Gary Lee Michelle, and Heather of Forest City, Iowa; Donald and his wife, Jean, Shawn, Sherri, Amy, and Angie of Pella, Iowa; Robert and his daughter, Jennifer of Des Moines, Iowa; Roger and his wife, Wendy, Jacob of Pella, Iowa; a daughter: Betty and her husband, Shawn Mallen, James, Mary, John, and Sarah of Kanawha, Iowa; two sisters: Ruth and her husband, Roger Diephuis of Grand Rapids, Michigan and Adriana and her husband, Duane Beving of Silver Springs, Maryland; two brothers: John and his wife, Beverly DeWaard of Kanawha, Iowa and Herman and his wife, Ann DeWaard of Kalamazoo, Michigan and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, father and nephews, John Beving.