Gary W. MEHLISCH

  Noted events in his life were:

• Obituary: Des Moines Register, 2010, Iowa, USA. October 29, 2010
Gary Mehlisch, Zearing farmer, died suddenly on October 27, 2010, on the historic northeast Story County farm that has been in the family since 1881. He was 63.

Mehlisch's great grandfather, Christian Markusch, left the Wendish area near Drauchausen, in the 1880's, in eastern Germany searching for the agricultural opportunities that America offered. Some 200 acres of the Mehlisch farm includes the original land that Markusch settled. Gary inherited the farm from his father and mother, Bill and Dorothy Hennis Mehlisch, who preceded him in death.

Gary graduated from N.E.S.C.O. High School in 1965. He married Roxanne Reed in January of 1970 at St. John's Lutheran Church in State Center, Iowa.

Gary Mehlisch is survived by his wife, Roxanne Reed Mehlisch, Zearing native, and their son, Brian, Zearing, and daughter, Michelle Mehlish Hovden of North Platte, Nebraska and grandson, Devan Hovden also of North Platte. Roxanne and Gary Mehlisch had been married for 40 years.

Gary served in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. He was a member of the American Legion. Gary attended agricultural courses at Iowa State University.

Large stands of pine trees in the front yard of the Mehlisch farm are notable. The last row was planted when the Mehlisch children were born.

About 10 years ago, Roxanne and Gary became interested in their barn - a rare in America Wendish barn. This led to a quest to learn about Wendish and Gary's Wendish heritage. They sought out people with Wendish roots in America. This led to annual festive gatherings of Wendish from as far away as Texas and California. Gary and Roxanne twice recently traveled to eastern Germany to meet Wendish folks. Some of the Germans they met have traveled to Iowa to participate in Special Wendish events at the Mehlisch farm.

The Mehlisch barn received an Iowa Barn Foundation Award of Distinction for its restoration. The barn is featured on the foundation's all-state tour every fall. Two weeks ago some 300 folks visited the barn over the weekend. Roxanne is a member of the board of the Iowa Barn Foundation. Gary was at her side, with interest and enthusiasm, while they toured barns all over the state.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday evening, October 29, 2010, at the Fredregill Funeral Home in Zearing, Iowa. Services will be at 10:30 a.m., Saturday October 30, 2010 at Bethel United Methodist Church in Zearing. Internment will be in the Lincoln Township Cemetery in Zearing.

• Cemetery: Zearing Cemetery, Zearing, 2010, Story County, Iowa, USA.

Gary married Living