Maynard M. "Mike" Garlow

1930 - 2019

Maynard “Mike” Garlow, 89, of Plainfield, IL / Holy Cross, IA, after a one-year battle with cancer, passed away on Monday, September 30, 2019 at his home in Plainfield, IL surrounded by his family.

Visitation for Mike will be held from 4 to 8 p.m., Friday, October 4, 2019 at the Reiff Funeral Home in Epworth, Iowa. They may also call from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, October 5, 2019 at the Funeral Home. The Farley American Legion Post #656 will meet in a body at 7:00 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial for Mike will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, October 5, 2019 at St. Clements Catholic Church in Bankston, Iowa with Rev. Michael Schueller officiating.  Burial will be held in St. Clements cemetery with Full Military honors afforded by the Farley American Legion Post #656.

Mike was born June 10th, 1930 in Dubuque, Iowa, son of Maynard “Major” (1908-1997) and Anna (Ward) Garlow (1903-1997). He is a graduate of Harpers Ferry High School in Harpers Ferry, Iowa.   

Too young to participate in World War II, yet a strong patriot, Mike enlisted in the Air Force immediately following his graduation from high school.  Mike served for 4 years in the Air Force, including the Korean War. He was stationed in several different locations including Georgia, Colorado, California, England, Puerto Rico, and Morocco.   While in the Air Force, Mike was a camera repairman for the Air Force bomber planes.  Mike remained active with the American Legion in Farley, Iowa.

Mike left the Air Force in 1954 and returned to Dubuque, Iowa.  He split his time between Dubuque and Harpers Ferry, Iowa.  Upon his return, Mike and a couple of buddies bought a plane and continued to fly for enjoyment.  He then met his future wife, Mary L. Schellsmidt (Lansing, Iowa).  They united into marriage on July 12th, 1958, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Wexford, near Lansing, Iowa.  Mike and Mary were married for 61 years.  Mike and Mary moved to Sherill, Iowa, near Mike’s employment at John Deere Dubuque Works, Dubuque, Iowa.  Mike was employed for 31 years at Deere’s, where he worked as a Maintenance Engineer and was extremely active in the UAW Local 94 Union, as a union committeeman.  During this early period, Mike also started an LP gas business, purchasing in volume and making sales and deliveries to local residents.  In 1964, with three sons in tow, Mike and Mary purchased and moved to a farm near Holy Cross, Iowa.  As a first-generation farmer, Mike could frequently be seen reading and researching farming techniques as they raised beef cattle, chickens, pigs, and corn.  Over the years Mike and Mary had four more kids for a total of 7 children (5 boys and 2 girls), which supplied them with a built-in work force for the farm.  In addition to raising the kids, Mary also worked as a nutrition teacher for Dubuque County where she taught local residents about nutritional foods and cooking.  In 1976, Mike and Mary bought the adjoining farm to expand their corn program and raise cattle.  In 1987, (as several of his children/workers went off to college) Mike retired from John Deere and spent his full focus on farming.  In 2000, Mike suffered a severe 3-story fall.  He broke his neck, crushed 3 vertebras, and broke his pelvis but after 8-months of rehabilitation, he was able to resume his duties on the farm.  In 2011, Mike and Mary decided to fully retire and moved to Plainfield, IL.  They sold a portion of their farm to their son, David, and rented out the remaining property to local neighbors.  To Mike, family, farming and country was everything.  The mechanical, electrical and plumbing skills he taught his children and his patriotism will live through the generations of his family.

He enjoyed playing cards, talking politics, and doing geneology.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mary (Schellsmidt) Garlow; seven children:  son Kenneth Garlow of Plainfield, IL, son James Garlow and his wife Jeanette (Kurz) of Libertyville, IL, son Karl Garlow of Dubuque, IA, son Robert Garlow and his wife Kathy (Hagensee) of Elmhurst, IL, son David Garlow and wife Chris (Pierce) of Holy Cross, IA, daughter Carol Bolton (Garlow) and her husband Mark of Livingston, MT, daughter Shirley Morris (Garlow) and husband Michael, of Bolingbrook, IL; 16 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Rose Boardman of Guttenberg IA, and Annie Meehan, Austin, TX.

He is preceded in death by his parents Anna and Major Garlow; his parents-in-law, Elmer and Clara Schellsmidt.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.reifffuneralhomeinc.com