Gary Edwin Wallace was born March 5, 1955 in Ft. Campbell, Kentucky the son of Gary Lee and Shirley Jean (Carton) Wallace.

Gary was born deaf and attended the Iowa School for the Deaf in Council Bluffs, Iowa. During his school years, he played football and wrestled. Gary worked on his family’s farm in Pleasantville during holidays and other school breaks. Following his high school graduation in 1974, Gary attended Iowa Western Community College, earning a degree in welding. He worked for Vermeer Manufacturing from August of 1975 until his retirement in January of 2019. On July 8, 1980 Gary was united in marriage to Patricia Downey. Two children, Danny and Amy were born to this union and the family always made Pleasantville their home.

In his spare time, Gary enjoyed collecting guns, shooting, attending gun shows and was a proud member of the NRA. He was also a member and former president of the Des Moines Association of the Deaf. Studying history and watching old movies were other favorite pastimes. Gary was also a social butterfly, and he enjoyed going to local businesses and visiting with customers and owners. Most important in his life was family; and he cherished his wife, children and grandchildren.

Gary passed away Sunday, August 16, 2026 at his home at the age of 71 years.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Shirley Wallace and sister, Tammy Bonnett.

Those left to cherish Gary’s memory include his wife, Patty; children: Danny (Jessica) Wallace and Amy (Josh Rice) Wallace; 6 grandchildren: Colton, Ryder and Landon Wallace and Taylor, Jacob and Jaxon Rice; father, Gary Lee Wallace; siblings: Michael (Teresa) Wallace, Stephanie (Justin) Fehrer and Beth (Curt) Boza and many other family members and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family to be designated at a later date.