Gilbert Dean Troyer

Gilbert Dean Troyer

Kalona

Gilbert Dean Troyer was born November 7, 1949, the son of Raymon and Ethel (Yoder) Troyer. He went to Brush #8 country school, graduated from IMS in 1967, attended Hesston College for a year, and graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in farm operations in 1972. Following college Gilbert spent 2 years in Poland, working on a dairy and horse farm, where he was in charge of taking care of five jumping horses. In 1975 Gilbert started farming with his family on the family farm. In 1984 he built his first manure hauling truck and started that business which later became Iowa Grow Inc., a commercial livestock waste management business. On March 20, 1993 Gilbert was united in marriage to Susan Harland. Gilbert enjoyed chatting with his friends at “The View”, golfing in his younger years, building and restoring trucks and old John Deere tractors. He loved spending time at the farm with his nephews, Abe and Max, baling hay. His pride and joy was his daughter Taylor. Gilbert passed away Thursday, February 5, 2026 at his home in Kalona at the age of 76 years.

Gilbert is survived by his wife Susan of Kalona; daughter Taylor Troyer of Raleigh, North Carolina; a grand-dog Huck; sister Janet Keim of Syracuse, Indiana; brother David (Donna) Troyer of Kalona; sister-in-law Louise Troyer of Faribault, Minnesota; mother and father-in-law Patty and Ron Harland, brothers-in-law Greg (Shirley) Harland, Mike (Julie) Harland and Tim (Deb) Harland and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers Gene and Dale, and brother-in-law Phillip J. Keim.

A memorial visitation will be held Saturday, February 21, 2026 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at the Yoder-Powell Funeral Home in Kalona. A memorial fund has been established for the Kalona Public Library Foundation and the Kalona First Responders. Messages and tributes may be sent to the family at www.powellfuneralhomes.com. Yoder-Powell Funeral Home is caring for Gilbert and his family.