Steve Garrett

Celebrating the Life of Steve Garrett
Steve Garrett, 69, of Oskaloosa, passed away peacefully at home under hospice care on Wednesday, October 22, 2025 - the morning of his and his wife Joan's 20th wedding anniversary. He faced an aggressive form of cancer with the same determination and tenacity that defined his life. In his final days, he was surrounded by his loving wife, daughters, son Kyle, sister Debra, and his closest friends and family.
Born January 8, 1956, in Oskaloosa, Iowa, to Melvin Edward and Carol Marie Galpin Garrett, Steve was a talented athlete in his youth, excelling in wrestling and earning a college football scholarship. After graduating from Oskaloosa High School in 1974, he earned a certificate in HVAC sheet metal work from Indian Hills Community College. His career included Clow Valve, U.S. Fiber, Industrial Commercial Insulation (ICI), and 19 years at Pella Corporation, where he retired as Senior Warehouse Manager in 2018.
Steve married the love of his life, Joan Welsh, on October 22, 2005, at their home in Oskaloosa. A private man, fiercely loyal and protective, Steve's love for Joan, his family, grandchildren, and closest friends was expressed in his actions and the time he spent with them.
A brilliant and creative mind, Steve turned his basement into a workshop, building RC and Pinewood Derby cars, and custom model cars entirely from scratch. He crafted Pinewood Derby cars for his grandchildren to race and earned awards at the 2024 and 2025 Annual Midwest Ford Fest. Steve also enjoyed metal detecting, sketching, engineering, motorcycles, e-bike adventures on the Oskaloosa recreation trail, and was a devoted Kansas City Chiefs fan who shared sports and video game moments with his son Kyle.
He is survived by his wife Joan Garrett; son Kyle (Brandy) Garrett; daughters Erin (Charlie) Reese and Morgan (Dustin) Coleman; six grandchildren, Iris Garrett, Payten, Paislee, and Pierce Coleman, and Baylee and Brynnlie Reese; two sisters, Debra Ann (Jeff Schippers) Jamison and Barb Fallis; brother Terry Garrett; and cousin Susie Anderson. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Julie Garrett.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, October 26, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. at Bates Funeral Chapel, with burial in the Garrett Cemetery. A gathering will follow at the Southern Iowa County Fairgrounds in the DAV building.
In honor of Steve's love for the outdoors and the community, his family plans a memorial bench on the MCRF recreation trail. Memorials may be made to help establish this tribute.
Steve Garrett lived with passion, curiosity, loyalty, and humor. He approached life on his own terms, and in his final moments, surrounded by those he loved, he entered heaven the same way he lived - with the wind on his face, the peace of the trail around him, quietly and on his terms. His presence, laughter, and spirit will be felt in the hearts of all who knew him.