Gary Shrum

Gary Kenneth Shrum the son of Kenneth and Lorine Driskell Shrum was born August 20, 1946 at Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Gary passed away October 2, 2020 at Avoca Skilled Care in Avoca, Iowa. Gary was raised in Randolph, Iowa where he attended school and graduated from Fremont Mills High School in 1964. Gary was a member of the Randolph Methodist Church and had many great memories growing up in Randolph.

In 1965 he started working for the Fremont County Road Department in Sidney, Iowa as Assistant to the Engineer. He worked for Fremont County for 47 years before retiring in 2012. He took great pride in the County’s roads and bridges.

In February of 1966 Gary entered the United States Air Force as Military Police and served in Denver, Colorado, Johnston Island in the Pacific and Minot, North Dakota. He even guarded Air Force One during Richard Nixon’s Presidency. He was proud of his service.

On June 12, 1966 Gary married Nancy Ann Benedict and resided in Randolph, Iowa until moving to Council Bluffs in 2013. To this union two daughters were born, Tracy Lynn and Wendy Jo. He loved his kids, grandkids and great grandkids.

While living in Randolph, Gary also worked for the Randolph Water Department for 13 years.

One of Gary’s favorite activities was fishing. He enjoyed several fishing trips to Canada and South Dakota through the years.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Lorine; a brother in law, Gene Belknap; and two nephews, Todd Wilkins and Sammy McElroy.

Gary is survived by his wife of 54 years, Nancy; his daughters, Tracy Porter of West Des Moines, Iowa and Wendy (David) Friday of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Grandchildren Taylor Porter of West Des Moines, Iowa and friend Eugene Hanson of Omaha; Nathan (Darbi) Neighbors of Bellevue, Nebraska; Blake (Meredith) Porter of West Des Moines, Iowa; Natalie Friday and Emma Friday of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Great Grandchildren Elijah Neighbors and Delani Neighbors of Bellevue, Nebraska; three sisters, Shirley Belknap of Shenandoah, Iowa; Phyllis (Vance) Trively of Randolph, Iowa and Barbara (Leonard) Wilkins of Council Bluffs, Iowa; many nieces, nephews and friends. Gary had a very close family and loved them all.
God Bless his memory and give strength to those who mourn.

Visitation is Thursday, October 8, 2020, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Hoy Kilnoski Funeral Home. Graveside service is on Friday, October 9th at 1:00 p.m. in the Randolph, Iowa Cemetery.