Gerald Robert Mishak

Gerald Robert "Gerry" Mishak, age 79, a resident of New Hampton, Iowa, passed away Monday, October 13, 2025 at his home following a recent hospitalization at Mayo Clinic Hospital St. Mary's Campus. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 17, 2025 at Holy Family Parish in New Hampton with Rev. Chris Podhajsky celebrating the Mass. Friends may greet the family from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 16, 2025 at Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory in New Hampton. Visitation continues an hour prior to the Mass on Friday at the church. 641-394-4334. Gerald "Gerry" was born July 23, 1946 in New Hampton, Iowa to Cecelia Amelia (Schupanitz) Mishak and Walter F. Mishak of Alta Vista, Iowa. He attended catholic elementary and high school at St. Williams School in Alta Vista. After graduating he worked for various local businesses in the New Hampton area where he met the love of his life, Marilee Ann Lowe. They married August 19, 1967 and recently celebrated their 58th Wedding Anniversary. He joined the Chickasaw County Ambulance crew as an EMT and helped develop tools for vehicle extraction. In 1974, Gerry attended the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy in Johnston, IA. Gerry was a deputy for Chickasaw County, Iowa for 27 years before retiring in 2001. During his time on the force, he worked patrol, was Jail Administrator, DARE Officer, and he taught Jail Administration classes at the academy. In his retirement he worked part time at FS enjoying the camaraderie and fellowship of his co-workers. Gerry was active in his community. He and Marilee taught Pre Cana at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, he was a mentor through the STAR Mentoring, taught Iowa Hunter Safety, and mowed the Fredericksburg Gun Club to name a few. Gerry was a member of The Ghost Garrison founding the Fort Atkinson rendezvous in 1976. Gerry and Marilee brought Cowboy Poetry to Chickasaw County in 2005 when they were fundraising for the Twin Ponds Nature Center. The event continued to grow and it branched into a fundraiser for various organizations for over 13 years before the Mishaks passed the torch to the Lawler Lions. Gerry is survived by his wife, Marilee of New Hampton; one son Kelly Mishak of Nora Springs; one daughter Karla (James) Lee of Kansas City; four grandchildren, KC Anna (Dustin) Rosol, Emma Jean (Matt) Marks, Jacob (Nicole) Lee and Jessica Lee, and five great-grandchildren, Charlie and Milo Rosol and Lila, Apollo and Ivy Marks, as well as his daughter in law, Colleen Mishak. He is preceded in death by his parents Walter (1971) and Cecil (1992), his sisters Delores (Jerry) Felder, Marilyn (Leo) Elenz and Jean (Leroy) Hilsman, and one nephew, Richard Hilsman.