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Gary Hersom Obituary
Gary was born in rural Ruthven, Iowa on October 30, 1944, son of Franklin L. and Veronica (Gates) Hersom. He graduated from Mallard High School, Mallard, Iowa in 1962. He enlisted in the U.S. Army after graduating from high school and served stateside and in Germany for three years, as a radar & radio technician. After receiving his honorary discharge, he attended Brown Institute of Technology in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He completed the industrial electronics program while working full time at UNIVAC. He also attended Iowa Lakes Community College and the University of Northern Iowa.
He married Kathy Hastings on September 16, 1966, in Mankato, Minnesota. They moved to Jesup, Iowa in 1970 and Gary worked for Jesup Appliance as an electrician. He then started his own business, Gary's Electric, in 1978. He continued his electrical business until his retirement in 2015. Gary was a well-known equine judge worldwide for over 40 years. Gary and Kathy raised Palomino Quarter Horses and successfully showed them in halter classes for many years, some of those horses attained national top honors. Gary served the community as a 4-H Leader, a board member of the Farmer's Mutual Telephone Company, and a member of the First United Methodist Church, in Jesup. Following the passing of his loving wife, Kathy, in 2016, Gary moved to Newberry, Florida in 2017. He met his companion, Debbie Manser, in 2019 and together they traveled the country with their horses and enjoyed trail riding and making new friends. He was hardworking up until his final days, as they settled into their new home in Gaylesville, Alabama in 2025.
Gary is survived by his two sons: Matthew (Kristine) Hersom of Pendleton, South Carolina, and Daniel (Cindy) Hersom of Chicago, Illinois, five grandchildren: Cole, Samuel, and Kaitlyn Hersom and Olivia and Aiden Hersom, his siblings: Barbara Zeck, Ronald (Roberta) Hersom, Donald (Judy) Hersom, Darrel (Amanda) Hersom, and Mary Ann Stoneking. He was preceded in death by his wife Kathy Hersom, and his parents and grandparents.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, December 12, 2025, at 2:00pm, at the First United Methodist Church in Jesup, Iowa.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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