Gary Lee Vinchattle

1932 - 2023

Gary of Apple Valley, Minnesota passed away peacefully on July 23, 2023 just short of his 91st birthday.

Gary was born in Slifer, Iowa on July 28, 1932 to Virgil and Edith (Knutson) Vinchattle. He attended Callender Public Schools, graduating in 1950. In October of 1952, he married Marilyn L. Anderson of Fort Dodge, Iowa, and shortly thereafter, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. Gary was a proud veteran of the Korean War serving for 2 years until his honorable discharge in 1954.

After coming home from Korea, he returned to work at George A. Hormel in Fort Dodge, Iowa and continued working there until the plant closed in 1984. While at Hormel's he played on the Hormel's Local #31 Softball Team.

In December of 1988, he married Linda A. Fertig of Fort Dodge, Iowa. Gary loved to fish, hunt, and play golf. After retirement he stayed active and walked 18 holes of golf almost every day. With friends and family, he spent a total of 3-4 weeks every year fishing on Whitefish Bay, Lake of the Woods, Canada. A bay was even named for him and was called Vinchattle Bay. Gary and Linda enjoyed traveling to Ireland and Scotland and particularly enjoyed a Viking River Cruise which ended in the Czech Republic and included a couple of days with relatives of the Vinchattle family who still resided there.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents Virgil and Edith Vinchattle, his sisters Judy (Vinchattle) Mikonowicz and Dee (Vinchattle) Means.

He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Linda (Fertig) Vinchattle; three children from his first marriage, Vicki (Layne) Pearson of Eagan, Minnesota, Denis Vinchattle of Fort Dodge, Iowa, and Julie Rabbitt of owrie, Iowa; three grandchildren, Carrie Rabbitt Pelz of Fort Dodge, Iowa, Zachary Pearson of Madison, Wisconsin, and Tyler Pearson of Eagan, Minnesota; three great grandchildren, McKenzie Conley of Ankeny, Iowa, Trevin Conley of Fort Dodge, Iowa and Alaina Pearson of Madison, Wisconsin; brother David Vinchattle of Bismarck, North Dakota; brother-in-law Dale Means of Apple Valley, Minnesota, sister-in-law Jana Baldwin of Fort Dodge, Iowa, brother-in-law Tim (Zenaida Chuchay) Fertig of San Diego, California; 12 nieces and nephews, and many great nieces and nephews.

Gathering of family friends was on Thursday, July 27, 2023 at White Funeral Home Apple Valley, 14560 Pennock Avenue, Apple Valley, MN 55124. Graveside service in Iowa held 11:00 am on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 at Callender Cemetery with a luncheon at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, Callender, Iowa.

White Funeral Home

Apple Valley 952-432-2001

www.whitefuneralhomes.com