Gary Wertz

1946 - 2015

Gary Lynn Wertz passed away unexpectedly November 15, 2015. A Longmont native, Gary was born on September 23, 1946, to Earl H. Wertz and Virginia Mae Wertz (nee Major). Gary attended St. John the Baptist Catholic School for grades 1-8. He graduated from Longmont High School in 1965. A gifted athlete who stood 6'5", Gary played on the high school basketball team. Gary attended the University of Colorado - Boulder until Uncle Sam came calling. He was drafted on Valentine's Day 1969, which he jokingly referred to as the "Valentine's Day Massacre." Gary proudly served in the U.S. Army, 294th Military Police Company, stationed in Japan, until February 1971. Upon returning stateside, he worked alongside his father at St. Vrain Glass and Upholstering, where Gary had first started working when he was 14. Gary bought the company from his father in 1986, closing it in 2002 to focus on retirement and, most important, his golf game. Gary married Judith Ann Christensen on October 20, 1971, in Boulder. They were divorced in July 2003 but remained good friends. Gary began dating Tammy Linn Parker in 2006, and they recently celebrated their ninth anniversary together. Gary and Tammy enjoyed traveling and visited Japan (twice, where Gary's rudimentary Japanese language skills came in handy), Mexico, Puerto Rico and Hawaii. They also attended the Ryder Cup in Chicago as well as the Solheim Cup, Senior PGA Championship and BMW Championship at golf courses in Colorado. Gary held an abiding love of golf. He was one of Fox Hill Country Club's original members and continued to play there several times a week. Gary also enjoyed bowling and motorcycle riding in his earlier years and had recently taken up hiking (thanks to his girlfriend's urging), mainly in Rocky Mountain National Park and the Grand Mesa. He was also a movie buff and particularly enjoyed watching old black-and-white flicks. Thanks to his years working in the auto industry, Gary remained an expert on classic U.S. cars, often being able to identify the make, model and year simply by seeing a tail light, and he frequently attended car shows and auto auctions. A humble and compassionate man, Gary was known for performing frequent good deeds for friends and neighbors, who will greatly miss his assistance as well as his calm demeanor and whimsical sense of humor. Surviving Gary are his long-time love Tammy and their American Eskimo Dog Duchess and tuxedo cat Tallulah, his sister Carolyn Wertz, his former wife Judy Wertz and her siblings Randy Christensen, Tye Christensen and Kelly Christensen, along with many nieces and nephews. There was cremation. Services will be held at 10:00 am on Tuesday, November 24, 2015, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Longmont. A reception will follow the services in the Howe Mortuary Event Room, 439 Coffman St., Longmont, CO. Please share your thoughts, memories and condolences at howemortuary.com