Gary W. Schmelzer

NORTH ENGLISH ? Gary Wayne Schmelzer, 58, of Kinross, died Monday, Jan. 4, 2016, in University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.

Visitation will be from 1 until 4 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 9, at Powell Funeral Home in North English, where there will be a time of sharing at 4 p.m. Memorials are preferred to the family. Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service in North English is in charge of the arrangements.

Mr. Schmelzer was born Oct. 7, 1957, in Iowa City, the son of Gary D. and Barbara (Ricketts) Schmelzer. He married Rayann James on June 24, 1984, in Muscatine.

He graduated from Iowa City West High School in 1975, where he was a pitcher on the baseball team and played for the Junior American Legion Baseball in Iowa City, and then went on to the Muscatine Red Sox team as traveling team. He worked in construction for several years. He then served in the Army for six years in Yuma, Arizona, and in Korea, where he was in an airborne unit. He worked at KPI/EPC in Kalona for 24 years and also helped his brother, Eric, with his business, ES Gutters. He was a member of the Sigourney Golf Club and Sigourney USBC. He enjoyed golfing with his wife, bowling, fishing with his brother, and having a good time.

Surviving are his wife, Rayann, of Kinross; one son, James Raymond Schmelzer of Kinross; his parents, of Muscatine; three brothers, James Jay Schmelzer and wife Dawn of Oklahoma, Kurt Allan Schmelzer and wife Cindy of Corning, and Eric Wade Schmelzer and wife Peg of Illinois City, Illinois; four sisters, Anna Mae Gaunt of Lenox, Cynthia Lynn Eagle and husband Bob of Muscatine, Vicki Sue Carter of Muscatine, and Jeana Kea Lippelgoes of Muscatine; a special aunt; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by one brother, Wesley Paul Schmelzer Sr.; his grandparents, George and Gretchen Ricketts, and Norma and George Rutka; and one niece.