Gary E. Wahlers

In the early hours of August 18th, 2020, God called upon one of his sons, long time Stover resident Gary Wahlers, to return home.

This followed a nearly 3½ year battle with ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease. While ALS took his body, his spirit was never stronger.

Gary came into this world on August 26th, 1955 with a wrench in one hand and Bible in the other, ready to fix whatever life brought to him. He took his first big step in his faith at his Confirmation at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Stover, not knowing at the time it was just the start of a full life in faithful service.

On September 20th, 1975, he married Kathryn Heimsoth, his loving wife, partner and caretaker of 44 years in Christ Lutheran Church.

Through many ups and downs, Gary and Kathryn cherished each other in a way that cause poets to lose their words and the rich to become envious. They are a couple that approached every issue together, whether it was to solve the problem or to hold each other when it wasn’t solvable.

Gary was a master mechanic most of his life in Cole Camp, Versailles, and Eldon. People would go out of their way to have him fix their vehicles because they were confident in his mechanical talent and, more importantly, his honesty and integrity. He treated people exactly the way he wanted to be treated, his recipe for a healthy and happy life.

While he was a mechanic, Gary was fostering his true calling in life, that of a country preacher. He completed studies and became a Parish Ministry Associate (PMA) in 2006 and the Ministry

Support Leader for Trinity Pyrmont and Immanuel Brauersville Churches from August 2014 until he retired because of his health in June 2018. Very little in his life made Gary feel more alive and helpful than serving those congregations, especially through his down to earth messages of peace, tolerance, and forgiveness. He was a humble rock of strength and support for others, regardless of faith or creed.

When he wasn’t helping solve the world’s spiritual and mechanical issues, Gary spent a lot of time with his first love, the outdoors. Whether he was fixing fence on the Wahlers and Heimsoth

family farms, tracking deer across rolling oak hills, helping put up hay during the hottest of the summers or cutting wood in the coldest of winters, Gary always had genuine love and respect for nature that he passed on to his family.

Probably because of that love, he became an accomplished carpenter, particularly with oak and walnut. His works have and will always bring warmth to his family and friends homes; a testament to his patience and attention to the smallest of details.

In addition to Kathryn, Gary is also survived by his mother in law Mildred Heimsoth of Stover, son Kris and Beth and grandchildren Dylan and Logan Wahlers of Parker, Colorado, daughter Amy and Terry and grandchildren Cheyanne and Chad Starkey of Stover, his sister Dianne and Ronnie Connor of Stover, sister Linda and Dale Ingersoll of Stover, and many cherished nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Gary had a large genetic family but an even larger social and Christian family. Many in the Morgan County area were proud to call him a loved friend, devout Pastor, involved teacher, trusted counselor, talented carpenter, and respectful outdoorsman. Many relied on his support and advice to navigate life’s issues, from a simple mechanical problem to a life-changing catastrophe.

Supporting the community was a big part of why he was a member and eventually president of the Stover School Board in the 1990’s. Helping others as he did wasn’t easy; it held many early mornings, late nights, long days and tough phone calls. Despite that, he wouldn’t have had it any other way. Supporting and helping those in need is truly Gary’s legacy.

He was preceded in death by his parents Elvan and Ruth Wahlers and father in law Oliver Heimsoth.

Private family services will be held at Pyrmont-Trinity Lutheran Church.

Public viewing will be held from 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Saturday, August 22 at the Stover High School Gymnasium with the funeral service beginning at 2:00 p.m. Burial will follow in the Stover Cemetery.
Masks are requested. Social distancing will be in effect in the gymnasium with social distancing seating established for the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Trinity Pyrmont Lutheran Church for a sound system, the Mid-America Chapter of the ALS Association https://www.alsa-midamerica.org/donate or the Benton County Hospice

“Our Earthly home is wherever our earthly family is, but our eternal home is where our Heavenly Father is.” – Gary Wahlers

.