Gary L. Green

Gary Leonard Green was born May 27, 1940, in Orange, California, to Jacob and Opal (Hall) Green. Gary passed away at St. Luke’s South Hospital in Overland Park, Kansas, on November 12, 2025, after a short hospital stay. He passed away with his loving family surrounding him and a Diet Coke in his hand. Gary was born in 1940 shortly before the attack on Pearl Harbor. His mom and dad moved him and his little sister, Nancy Green-Gross, back to Iowa in 1944 due to concerns of being attacked on the West Coast. His father was drafted into the war once they moved to Iowa and was killed in action in January of 1945 when Gary was 4.5 years old. His mother remarried Gaylord Jacobson and to that union, his brother, Gaylen (Jake) Jacobson, was born. Gary attended Greenfield schools kindergarten through high school, graduating with the Class of 1958. He worked at the Skelley Gas Station in addition to other jobs to support his growing family.

Gary married the first love of his life, Mary Sullivan, and to this marriage, four children were born: Teresa, Jeffry, Tamara, and Gregory. The family enjoyed small-town living with many family friends, Friday night football games, and get-togethers full of great food, great friends, and great fun.

Gary started his beverage career in Greenfield at the Pepsi Plant which was down the street from the family home. Gary would leave in the early morning and on his way home from his route, he would honk going by the house so the family knew he would be home soon. The kids would run down SW 2nd Street to meet their dad and help him close out the day’s business where he taught his kids to count money and do paperwork. Gary always had a strong work ethic and instilled this in his children, having his kids run paper routes, wash the Pepsi trucks weekly, and sort glass Pepsi bottles as a family. Work was always followed with Pizza Hut pizza (double beef double onion) and an ice-cold Pepsi. Gary was a great Dad, protecting and teaching his children and always wanting the best for them. Friends of his kids always said how lucky they were and how they hit the jackpot with such a wonderful Dad.

Gary loved sports and played town-team basketball with his little brother and multiple friends where the whole family would go and watch. Dad taught his little brother to play basketball and was always his strongest supporter. The bond between Dad and his siblings was very tight.

Gary was always trying to help those less fortunate, fostering young kids who had no guidance, and teaching them to work and find their way. He was a Boy Scout leader for several years where they raced pine wood derby cars in our basement.

Gary’s career moved the family next to Marshalltown, Iowa, in 1973. The family made more great friends in Marshalltown and a few Greenfield friends actually followed him there, working alongside him at the Pepsi Plant. Gary’s love of sports was also passed on to his kids with all kids in multiple sports. Gary never missed one of his kids’ games and always was their biggest cheerleader. It has been said that many kids in Marshalltown remember the Green house and Halloween when the family would hand out cans of pop instead of candy, and the lines would be down the block. The door was always open at the Green family home.

Gary was promoted again and moved the family to Waukee, Iowa, and then within a year moved to Kansas City to run the Pepsi Distribution Center. Gary was excited for this new move, buying a new house, and extremely excited to put in an in-ground swimming pool for family fun. He was known to have launched many kids in the swimming pool, with them always repeating “do it again”.

Through the years, the family spent a lot of time at Lake of the Ozarks with groups of families and friends, swimming and teaching the kids to water ski. Skeet ball and bumper cars at Bagnell Dam were always a must. Dad had nicknames for the people he loved. Being a strong family man, Gary always made the effort and took the trip to visit his relatives near and far, from Iowa to California. Dad mailed postcards and letters to his wife and kids with his travels, usually written on yellow legal paper with three to four bulleted sentences of his love for us and things to do.

In 1996, Gary married the second love of his life, Jo (Redhead/Red), and lived in Rocklin, California, where West Coast Beverages was started. Gary sold Dad’s Root Beer and Nesbitts, along with other private labels. He had the gift of selling and had multiple products in Costco Warehouse stores. Trips to California were made by the kids and grandkids enjoying sunny skies and multiple beaches. Dad and Jo took grandchildren Ryann and Dylan on a spectacular trip to Disneyland with lots of stories to be told.

Gary and Jo loved spending time at the Lake of the Ozarks with family, boating, meandering around, and evenings at Bagnell Dam with his grandkids. His children could always spot Dad and Jo boating along the shoreline of the Ozarks for hours on end. Jo would take out the jet ski and Dad would follow her in the boat to make sure she was safe. Dad was always a protector. Dad once found a baby chick he called Daisy who could not follow the rest of the little ducklings over the parking lot curb to get to the lake. Dad and Jo took the baby duck in, named her Daisy, and she swam in their sink at their condo until they took her to a rescue back in KC.

Gary was all about family. His love of his Green kids was very strong, and he was proud of every one of them. He was an even prouder grandfather and amazed with his little great-grandchildren. Christmas in Iowa sometimes extended very late into the evening, as he could never get enough of fun and laughter with his mom, sister, and little brother, and the rest of the gang.

Gary is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife, Jo, of the home, five children, Teresa Green-Hoodjer of Jefferson, Iowa; Jeffry Green of Overland Park, Kansas; Tamara Green of Overland Park, Kansas; Gregory (Stacy) of Melbourne Beach, Florida; Stefanie (Mike) Haddock of Pea Ridge, Arkansas. He was a proud grandfather to grandchildren Ryann (Dalton), Adam, Dylan (Cari), Brandon, Quinton, Tate, John (Amanda), Beau (Jess), and Derek (Hanna). He was a cherished great-grandfather to Carson, Camden, Casen, Jackson, Liv, Walker, Heidi, Scottie, and M.J. Gary is also survived by his brother-in-law Denny Gross of Greenfield, Iowa; Jake (Maureen) Jacobson of West Des Moines along with beloved nieces and nephews, extended family members, and many dear friends.

Gary was predeceased by his father, Jacob Leonard Green; mother, Opal Marie Jacobson; stepdad, Gaylord Jacobson; first wife and mother of his four Green kids, Mary Sullivan-Green-Washburn; sister, Nancy Gross; son-in-law, Tracy Hoodjer; and, his beloved dogs, Sandy (Satch), Pepper, KC, and Princess.

Gary Green never met a stranger and was known and loved for his “happy-go-lucky” personality and infectious smile. He would always extend his hand out and say, “Hi, I’m Gary Green, pleased to meet you,” and people smiled back. It was always a good time with Dad. He was always positive and loved for his caring ways. Dad found the very best in every situation, and said “find a way to make the day good.” He wanted everyone to live their best life and have fun. Dad was one in a million, and we will miss him so much.

Gary’s heart was hard from losing his Dad at such a young age, but found his way back to God, as we believe his dad met him on his departure to Heaven.

The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to all of his caregivers through the years, as well as his therapy team at Garden Terrace. Dad enjoyed all of you. A special thank you goes to Christian Cox for his unending support and love of Dad in his final years. You all made his days better.

Memorials: Memorials may be made to the Gary Green Memorial Fund to be established by the family at a later date.