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Lester Gatrel Obituary
Indianola
Lester (Tex) Gatrel Sr. 84, of Indianola, IA, born in Sewel, IA. on December 17, 1931, passed away Wednesday, February 10, 2016.
Tex is survived by his wife Pat ("My wife, my wife, my wonderful wife. My wife, my wife is the love of my life."). They celebrated 65 years of marriage on May 27, 2015. He is also survived by four exceptional children - Rosanna Foreman, of Indianola, IA. - Deb (Mike) Norris of Colleyville, TX. - Kandy (Frank) Beeler, of Indianola, IA. - Les Gatrel Jr., of Kennewick, WA. and two special young men, David Billings, formerly of Knoxville, IA. and Kevin Moon, formerly of Ankeny, IA. - ten grand children, thirteen great-grand children. He was extremely proud of all his children, grandchildren and great-grand children, many special nieces & nephews. He is also survived by two sisters, Katie Moritz of Davenport, IA. and Thomasine Rennenger of Indianola, IA; his aunt Crystal Gadberry, of Powersville, MO. He was preceded in death by his parents, Hartley and Marie Gatrel and baby brother.
Tex and Pat owned and operated Gatrel's Landscaping & Sod Farm for 35 years. He was the president of The Iowa Sod Growers Assoc. Prior to that, he worked at Iowa Packing Co/Swift & Co for 9 years. Tex was also involved in sprint car and NASCAR racing all over the USA. He was one of the founding fathers and first president of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame, in Knoxville, IA. He received the Heritage Award from The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 2004. Tex and Pat were inducted into Knoxville Raceway Hall of Fame in 2009.
Per his request; a Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, February 15th from 6:00pm to 9:00pm at the Scotch Ridge Church, 13015 Scotch Ridge Road, Carlisle, IA., south of Des Moines and north of Indianola just off of Highway 65/69.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: "Rebuilding Together Greater Des Moines", 1111 9th St., Suite #265, Des Moines, IA. 50314 or Mercy Hospice House, 5820 Winwood Drive, Johnston, IA. 50131-1651.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Lester Gatrel
Virginia Wheeldon
February 16, 2016
To the Gatrel family: My deepest sympathies to all of you. I know he will be greatly missed.
i'll meet you in turn 2 in Heaven
Mike Heuton
February 15, 2016
thanks for sharing your racing stories
Mike Heuton
February 15, 2016
Dana Smith (Gilleland)
February 14, 2016
You will be missed down here on earth but we know you are no longer in pain. My thoughts are with all of Tex's loved ones.
Daniel Collett
February 14, 2016
May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.
meggan wagner
February 14, 2016
A great man to know I will always remember his jokes. Living next to them was godsend I couldn't have asked for anything better in two people. The earth has lost wonderful soul full of life. My sincerest prayers and condolences to the gatrel family. God bless you with love and courage during this time.
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