Gary Ewoldt, 81, formerly of Eldridge, died after a year-long illness at his home in Chandler, Ariz., on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, with his wife Carol at his side.
Cremation rites have been accorded, and a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
Gary was born in Davenport on Jan. 23, 1943, and was a 1961 graduate of North Scott High School. He completed one year at the University of Iowa.
Following the example of his father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Gary went into construction. He was a home builder and developed several Eldridge neighborhoods. He also worked on a variety of commercial projects, including motels, churches, schools and malls in the area.
He married Shirley Hansen in 1962. They had three children: Chris, Kim and Pam. He was a proud and devoted father who regularly attended his kids’ school activities. Gary later married Carol Goetzke in 1994. They made a home together in Eldridge until 2021, when they moved permanently to Arizona.
He served on the Eldridge Park Board, Eldridge City Council and was a 20-year member of the Eldridge Fire Department. He is a former member of the North Scott Rotary and North Ridge Community Church. Gary was a lifetime Hawkeye fan.
Those left to honor his memory are his wife of 30 years, Carol, as well as his daughters, Kim (Stan) Hartman of Chandler, Ariz., and Pam (Daniel) Witt of Loveland, Colo.; daughter-in-law, Colleen Ewoldt of Eldridge; and stepdaughters, Rebecca Goetzke of Italy and Melissa (Jesse) Feinkind of Valencia, Calif. He has seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two sisters, Sue Braack of Eldridge and Jane (Gary) Haase of Reno, Nev.
Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Arno (Barney) and Melvia Ewoldt, his son Chris, and his brother-in-law, Dale Braack.
Memorials may be made to the Eldridge Volunteer Fire Department or to North Ridge Community Church.
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