Alan Garrett

Alan Dale Garrett was born May 4, 1931, the son of Leolan and Ella (Petersen) Garrett on a farm north of Dow City, Iowa. He passed away with his family by his side on April 9, 2013, at Eventide in Denison, Iowa, at the age of 81 years, 11 months, and 5 days.
He was baptized and confirmed at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church where he was currently a member. He attended country school at Paradise Township and the Dow City High School graduating in 1949. In November 1949, he entered the U.S. Army with the 817 Engineering Aviation Battalion, serving as a heavy equipment operator in England for 25 months. He was honorably discharged as Sargent in 1952.
In December 1953 he was united in marriage to Maxine Feddersen and they were blessed with the birth of four children.
Alan served as an Elder at Bethlehem Lutheran Church for a number of years and was a member of the American Legion for many years.
He purchased the family farm in 1962, was a welder helping to build IBP, had a corn sheller, did carpentry work, and was Head Custodian at the Dow City School, retiring in 1990. After retiring, he drove occasionally for Denison Engineering. The consummate handyman who will be remembered for his ability to build and repair anything he set his mind to. He usually had a joke or two to share.
He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. In his spare time he enjoyed traveling, camping, playing cards, going to the casinos, and most of all being with his family, especially taking family vacations, and also spending five winters in Texas. Some of his travels included going to see son Mark in Hampton, Virginia; Washington, D.C.; attending Dolly Partons Theater in Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Colorado; California; and Kansas to visit relatives. He and Maxine also traveled to the New England states and other destinations by bus on various bank trips.
In June 2002, Alan suffered a severe stroke, and again in December 2008, and he had been in poor health ever since and entered Eventide on August 5, 2011.
Alan was preceded in death by his parents; two grandchildren, Chad Alan and Mandi Arlene Thomsen; one brother Jack; and one sister-in-law, Gloria. Survivors include his wife, Maxine; three daughters: Linda and husband, John; Lori and husband, Byron; Lynette and husband, Kevin; one son, Mark and wife, Lori; five grandsons; three granddaughters; five great-granddaughters; five great-grandsons; two brothers, Beryl and Larry and his wife, Carlyn; one sister-in-law, Shirley; other relatives and friends.