Gary Riden

Gary Riden, 68, of Charles City, passed away Wednesday, April 22, 2020 from natural causes.

Due to state and federal guidance on gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a private family memorial service will be held at Hauser Weishaar Funeral Home with Pastor Steve Hansen officiating. The service will be live streamed on the Hauser Weishaar Funeral Facebook page at 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 28, 2020. The family welcomes everyone to join the service from their homes. A celebration of life for the public will be held at a later date with inurnment at Sunnyside Memory Gardens in rural Charles City.

Gary Alan Riden was born on Oct. 29, 1951 to Floyd and Margaret (Wedeking) Riden in Charles City. He began his lifelong love of farming growing up on the family farm. Gary attended Charles City High School. During his senior year, Gary started working at A&B Elevator in Charles City. Upon graduation he attended NIACC earning a degree in Agricultural Business, met the love of his life, Sheila Burzette, and continued working at A&B Elevator.

On April 10, 1976, Gary married Sheila at Trinity United Methodist Church with Dr. Reverend R. Robbison performing the ceremony. This union was blessed with two daughters: Somer Ann and Andrea Sue.

In 1977, Gary and his business partner and friend, Lee Carder, opened Northeast Distributors and Riden Feed & Supply. For 20 years he and his eventual partner, George Mitchell, became a harvest staple at many farms in northeast Iowa. Gary made sure the farmers were able to spray, dry and store their crops. Day or night, warm or bitter freezing cold, if Gary couldn’t amazingly diagnose and teach a farmer how to get their corn dryer back up and running over the phone he was there at their farm. Over the years, he earned numerous sales awards for his hard work. After selling the business in 1997, Gary continued on with the company taking care of the farmers. In 2012, ownership transferred to Countryside Construction and Gary continued to stay with the business selling and repairing corn dryers and bins until the time of his death.

Gary had a smile for everyone and would do anything anyone needed. He was a diehard Green Bay Packers fan who bled green and gold. In his younger years, Gary raced snow mobiles and then later he spent his time golfing. His true love was his family: his wife, daughters, grandchildren and especially his great-grandson who always made his eyes twinkle.

Those left to remember Gary are his daughters: Somer (Ben) Diercks of Genesee, Michigan and Charles City and Andrea (Alex) Heitz of Charles City; seven grandchildren: Katie (Alex), Seth, Derrick, Damien, Carter, Olivia and LuLu; great-grandson, Jeremiah; Gary’s canine companion, Jack; sister, Mona Staudt of Charles City; sister-in-law, Jan (Brian) Adams of Osage; along with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Gary was preceded in death by his mother and father; and his wife, Sheila.

Hauser Weishaar Funeral Home, (641) 228-2323, 1205 South Main Street, Charles City, Iowa 50616 is in charge of local arrangements. Online condolences may be left on the Tribute Wall for the family at www.hauserfh.com.