"Mr. Mestad was such a devoted coach and teacher. I can still hear him yelling "wheels!wheels!" around the bases. I hope their is a softball coaching vacancy up in heaven. "
In loving memory of
Gary A. Mestad
February 14, 1946 - September 20, 2008
GARNER - Gary A. Mestad, 62, of Garner died Saturday (September 20, 2008) at his home in Garner.
Funeral services will be held 10:30 A.M., Thursday at the United Methodist Church in Garner with Rev. Keith Scott officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Mason City.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 P.M., Wednesday at the Cataldo Funeral Home in Garner and will continue one hour prior to services at the church.
Gary Allen Mestad, the son of Orval and Trina (Linne) Mestad, was born February 14, 1946, at Mason City. He graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1964. He continued his education at NIACC in Mason City and graduated from Mankato State University in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. On August 15, 1970, he married Merikay Marth at First Methodist Church in Mason City. That same year they moved to Garner where Gary began teaching fifth grade at Garner-Hayfield Community Schools. The next year he moved to seventh and eighth grade social studies. He earned his MSE in Education Administration - Secondary in 1997 at Drake University. He enthusiastically coached both boys' and girls' middle school sports and varsity softball before retiring in 2001. Gary took two softball teams to the state tournament. Sports, especially coaching, was a major part of his life. Gary enjoyed collecting records and CDS, going to the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake and listening to many kinds of music. He was an avid Buddy Holly and St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan.
He is survived by his parents, Orval and Trina Mestad of Clear Lake; a brother, Curtis Mestad of Clear Lake; an uncle, Henry (Donna) Linne of Coralville; and a cousin, Kathy Hanna of Boulder, CO.
Gary was preceded in death by a nephew, Adam Benish.
Tributes
"Gary was quite the character. Our family moved to Garner in the mid-eighties and I worked at the middle school with Gary. He also wrote the football articles for the newspaper (Garner Leader) and every Sunday night he would phone our house to talk football with my husband. Gary, you are missed. Deb Schumacher "
"Mr. Mestad was a great teacher and coach. I remember many days behind home plate as the catcher talking and learning about the game of softball in the early 70s. He was also the first "man" teacher that I had in the old middle school. He had a lot of passion for teaching and coaching. May he rest in peace. "