Gary D. Scholten

Gary D. Scholten, age 84, of Junction City, Oregon passed away on Tuesday, December 16, 2025.
Gary Donald, son on Gerrit and Minnie (Voogd) Scholten, was born on August 31, 1941, on the family farm in Boyden Iowa. He grew up on the farm and attended the Hull Christian Schools.
On April 20, 1960, he married Charlene Wilson of Sheldon, Iowa, where they raised their four children. Gary enjoyed his career as a truck driver for over 50 years, retiring at 70. Over the course of his career, he accumulated well over 3 million miles, all accident-free.
Gary and Charlene moved from Sheldon, Iowa to Junction City, Oregon in 1987 where they made their home and joined the First Christian Church. In his retirement, Gary enjoyed being the landscaper for their church, taking great pride in making the church grounds look beautiful. At home, he enjoyed his garden, growing a variety of fruits and vegetables.
Family was most important to Gary, and he loved to spend time with his children, grandchildren, and extended family. He especially loved to BBQ and laugh with the people he loved most. He had the best laugh that would bring tears to his eyes when something struck him especially funny.
Gary loved his wife, Charlene, for 65 years. He is survived by his wife, Charlene, sons, Gaylon Scholten and his wife Leone, of St. Petersburg, Florida, Brian Scholten, of Tacoma Washington, Bruce Scholten and his wife Kerri, of Ashton Iowa, and his daughter, Amanda Kliever and her husband Biff Kliever, of Waxahachie, Texas; grandchildren, Tory Scholten, Lawrence Johnson, Courteney Sinada and her husband, Jamal, Jordyn Coakley and her husband, Alex, Alex Elwell and his wife, Lydia, Sadie Elwell and Addison Elwell; and seven great-grandchildren with one more on the way; his sister, Eleanor and her husband John Ver Burg, of Cutlerville, Michigan, and brother, Elmer Scholten and his wife Evelyn, of Jenison, Michigan; Charlene's siblings and their spouses, Sheila Frampton, of Junction City, Oregon, Terry and Cindy Wilson of Grants Pass, Oregon, and Pam and Larry Starmer, of Springfield, Oregon.
He was welcomed to Heaven by his parents, parents-in-law, Mervin Wilson and Thelma Wilson, sister Jean DeJong and her husband Fred DeJong, brother John Scholten, brother-in-law, Clayton Frampton, and grandson, Julian Scholten.