Gary Allen Bagnall

Gary Bagnall, 80, passed away January 31, 2026.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at Memorial Services of Iowa (4208 N. Ankeny Blvd). A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 6, 2026, also at the funeral home. The service will be livestreamed at the following link: https://vimeo.com/event/5703261.

Gary was born on September 3, 1945, in Newton, Iowa, to Wayne and Marjorie Bagnall. He graduated from Newton High School before attending Central College where he graduated with a degree in Political Science. He married Joyce (Church) Bagnall on August 28, 1966.

He worked as an IBM salesman after college, then spent the majority of his career as President of Dealers Warehouse before starting his own business, Bagnall Builders, where he worked side-by-side with his son-in-law, David Van Blair. Throughout his career he had an entrepreneurial spirit, starting several independent businesses including selling solar panels and flipping houses before it was mainstream.

He loved his family and spending quality time with them having pool parties, going to street rod shows, and flipping pancakes for his grandkids to catch, and making his famous spaghetti for them. In his later years, he loved sitting on the deck watching the birds he brought in with his feeders, listening to his family's stories, and sharing his "Garyisms".

In his free time, Gary enjoyed riding motorcycles with friends, building street rods, hunting, fishing, and woodworking. Some of his pieces of beautiful furniture are still on display in his family's homes.

Gary is survived by his wife of 59 years, Joyce; daughters, Kim (Rob) Douglas of Ankeny, Amy (David) Van Blair of Ankeny, and Kristi Sterling of Ankeny; grandchildren, Anna (Layne) Sullivan, Katelyn (Brandon) Huber, Chase Van Blair, Preston Van Blair, Isabella Sterling, Rosalyn Sterling, and Ben Sterling; great-grandchildren, Isla Sullivan and Tate Huber; brother, Brent (Deb) Bagnall of Newton; two nieces, Dr. Madison Bagnall, and Cassie Crummett.

He is preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Gregg Bagnall.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Hospice of the Midwest or Story Point Urbandale.

To celebrate Gary, please join us in wearing your street rod or Harley Davidson shirts to the visitation.