Gary R. Wagamon

Gary Robert Wagamon, 83, of Macon, Missouri, and formerly of rural Hedrick, died Sunday, February 2, 2025, at the Boone County Hospital in Columbia, Missouri. He was born January 10, 1942, in South English, Iowa, the son of Doyle Wayne and Grace Marie Roberts Wagamon. He graduated from English Valley High School with the class of 1960. On May 28, 1961, he was united in marriage to Dixie Davis at Martinsburg, Iowa. Gary's working life revolved around tractor trailers. He started out as an over the road truck driver and grew to love the open road. For many years he enjoyed the open road until he and Dixie decided it would be nice to have him around the house more often. This did not deter his love for semis and the transportation profession. He owned several semis over the years that he dispatched all over the country. In addition to having his own trucks on the road he spent hours working on trucks to fix up to sell. He scoured the country looking for semis that just needed a little "TLC" to get them back on the road. Gary refurbished countless trucks over the years. He enjoyed sharing his passion with others, especially young people entering the profession. He loved all trucks, but he never drove a Freightliner he didn't like. In addition to his trucking business, he owned and operated a farm near the family home. In May of 2021, Gary and Dixie "retired" and moved to Macon, Missouri. They found the perfect place down there on a small acreage with a large shop so he could work on trucks. He had a wealth of knowledge about trucking and many other subjects and was the "phone a friend" for many people when they were stumped with a problem.
His family includes his wife of over 63 years, Dixie Wagamon of Macon, Missouri; daughter, Dana Schmitz of Lawrenceville, Georgia; daughter in law, Carla Wagamon of Ottumwa; three grandchildren, Maddy Schmitz, Whitney (Wade) Blaine, and Ashley Wagamon; six great grandchildren, Dylan Blaine, Tucker Blaine, Leah Blaine, Aliya Wagamon, Chloe Borror, and Lewis Giles; his sister, Peggy (Fred) LeFever of Pella; brother in law, Jim Davis of Ottumwa; and many nieces and nephews.
Gary was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Monty Wagamon; and a son in law, Darrin Schmitz.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, February 6, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. in the Fremont Funeral Chapel in Fremont, Iowa, with Reverend Sharon Bennell officiating. Burial will be in the Brooks Cemetery near Hedrick. The Fremont Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation with the family present will be Thursday morning in the Fremont Funeral Chapel from 11:00 until service time at 1:00 p.m. Memorials may be made to the American Legion Post 83 Hedrick, Iowa.