Gary Arthur Daufeldt, 79, died peacefully on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, at the Simpson Memorial Home in West Liberty, Iowa.
Visitation will be held 9 to 10:45 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in West Liberty, with the funeral mass to follow at 11 a.m. The Celebration of Life Luncheon will be held after mass and before the burial, which will be at Muscatine Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the West Liberty and Rural Township Fire & EMS Association or Muscatine County Fair. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.hendersonbarkerfuneralhome.com
The Henderson-Barker Funeral Home in West Liberty is caring for Gary and his family.
Gary was born on July 11, 1944, at Muscatine Hospital, the son of Clarence and Frances (Jewett) Daufeldt. Gary was a graduate of West Liberty High School and proceeded to attend Auto Mechanics Trade school in Omaha. One of Gary’s favorite pastimes in his younger days was playing in six different competitive leagues as a pitcher for fast pitch softball for over eight years. He was united in marriage to Susan Hradek on May 18, 1968. They were later divorced.
Gary farmed for most of his life and worked at Hon Industries in Muscatine for 33 years. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in West Liberty and involved with the West Liberty Jaycees for several years. Gary was an active member of the Muscatine County Fair Board; he enjoyed volunteering for several different events and activities each year.
Those left to honor his memory include his three children, daughter Tammy Dietz (Chad) of Muscatine, son Matt Daufeldt (Michelle) of West Liberty, and daughter Tracy Kaucher (Jim) of Littleton, Colo.; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; and his siblings, Donald Daufeldt (Pat), Gloria Dlouhy (Larry), James Daufeldt (Martha), Marlin Daufeldt, and Cindy Massey (Dub). He was preceded in death by his parents; his niece, Katie Dlouhy and his nephew, Aaron Daufeldt.