Gary Casady
August 25, 1955 ~ May 24, 2019
Gary Lee Casady, 63, of Hiawatha, died at home on Friday, May 24, 2019. Visitation 4-7 p.m. on Saturday, June 1, 2019, at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids. Graveside Service: 1 p.m. on Sunday at Pleasant Home Cemetery, Worthington, Missouri.
Survivors include his wife, Dixie; daughter, Dana (Joseph) Zach; granddaughters, Kianna and Malia'Lei; brother, Michael Cassady, numerous nieces and nephews in northern Missouri and Boone, Iowa, and a special bond with his cousin Louie and wife, Janice Casady. Also his best friends, Steve Scott and Jon Biederman; and dogs, Cuddles and Buster.
Gary was born August 25, 1955, in Ottumwa, Iowa, the son of Bernie and Winnie (Capps) Casady. He graduated with a dual degree in civil engineering and land surveying from Iowa State University in 1988. On July 10, 1988, he married Dixie Lee Gifford in Toledo, Iowa.
Gary's impact as an expert surveyor on development projects in Eastern Iowa is significant. As a Professional Engineer and Land Surveyor, he worked on many civil and private projects including the Cedar Rapids Police Station, Riverview Place, Del Ridge, Cedar Falls Commercial, and the Tiffin Industrial Park.
He enjoyed fishing, reading, spending time with horses at the Missouri farmhouse, going to auctions, and riding motorcycles. Gary always had plans and projects in his mind and loved to building garages and fill them with tools and projects. He was passionate about his collections, following Cyclone sports, and getting a deal. He cherished time spent with his family, friends and especially his two granddaughters.
Gary will be remembered as a loving husband and dad and a loyal friend to many. He had a genuine interest in people. His conversations were intelligent, deep and detail oriented. Gary made everyone feel at ease with his gentle smile and compliments.
He was a member of the Iowa State Alumni Association, Society of Land Surveyors of Iowa, and served on the Hiawatha Water Board.
Gary was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Eugene and Ronnie Casady; infant sister, Zelda; nephew, Randy Cassady; cat, Kitty and dog, Buddy.
Memorials are may be directed to the family.
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Gary will be greatly missed. It is a real joy and honor to call him my friend. He was an expert researcher and could talk at length and in great detail about his analysis of a surveying or engineering topic; referring to resources, code or specific court cases that were applicable. It was that ability and skill that initially drew me to him. When I walked away from a conversation in which I was seeking his opinion I would often think about how I should have known the answer. He knew through intelligent analysis how to find a good position. Throughout his life, he was determined to be learn and to achieve, providing definitive accomplishments at his life’s work as an engineer and land surveyor. There are numerous civil projects throughout Eastern Iowa that are a tribute to his good work. He was involved in the 50th celebration at Hall and Hall Engineers and their later move to Hiawatha, in which he was intricately involved in the preparations of the new offices. For TeKippe Engineering, he established a new satellite office here in Cedar Rapids. Then most recently, he established Casady Engineering. The people Gary worked with took notice of his really very unique abilities and skills. Clients and professionals that appreciated his approach to the work were very loyal and wanted him on their task or project. Through these years of getting to know Gary I have grown to respect him as a person above and beyond that professional respect he had earned. He was loyal, humorous, positive, and always achieving goals, not to mention once again an expert at conversation. When I would tell my family I was heading over to see Gary they knew I would not return home until late. They knew that once we got started in conversation it would not end until late into the day or early the next. Sometimes those conversations were about his stuff about which he was so passionate. He would go into great detail explaining how he came across the item, where he got it, how he found it, how he got the deal, what he paid, how much it was worth, how he got it home, and what he planned on doing with it. Then, he would go into detail about the item and it’s history as a product; how it was created, what was it’s lineage within category, what made it special, etc., etc., etc., etc….. He didn’t get angry or upset about the recent last several years of battling cancer. He was determined to make the best of each situation; learning about his treatment options and advising and discussing with his doctors. Those doctors couldn’t keep him down; he constantly worked toward achieving his goals no matter the challenge. In the last couple years that has included finding mobility solutions. It was enjoyable to spend time with him, see what innovate way he would tackle the challenge, and help him with that work. Recently, we worked on getting a chair lift into his van; he had a unique (only Gary could imagine) plan and I helped him accomplish the task. The evening before his back surgery we were up very late getting the lift installed; first attempt was successful and we had a self propelled chair lifted into place. The very next morning he took off for that surgery (late as you can imagine, if you know Gary) and we’ve been using that lift since. I’ll miss spending those times with Gary. It will be sad not to spend more time in conversation and watching sporting events; some plans, like going to a Cyclone football game won’t be achieved. I am however, glad to have had many moments and memories with a good friend.
I have had the privilege of working with many good engineers and land surveyors over the years, but I am lucky to be able to have worked under Gary during my most formative years as a young engineer. Gary and I would talk at length on how something should be done, or why it should be done a certain way. We would discuss the details of land development, surveying and engineering on the projects that we worked on together. Gary always had plenty of work that needed to be done, but he would always take the time to share his knowledge and experience to help me and others understand the ins and out of the engineering and land surveying needs for the land development business. Gary had many different interests, but he always made time for others. I am happy to be able to call Gary Casady both a mentor and a friend. He will be greatly missed. Shane Wicks, P.E. Hall and Hall Engineers, Inc.
Will miss Gary sooo much ,He was a very good person and loving . Someday, God promise of future hope Revelation 21:4 And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away. You will be in our thoughts and prayers and your family.
I had the privilege of helping Gary & Dixie with their auto & homeowners insurance back in the days when they lived in West Union. Gary wasn’t just a customer he became a friend! He showed me that I wasn’t as good of a ping pong player as I thought I was! We lost a great man to Heaven! God Bless you Dixie in this rough time!!
Please accept my sincere condolences to the family. I am so sorry to hear of the passing of Gary. The Bible assures us at Psalms 34:18 that God is near to those broken in heart. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. May your many memories help you find peace and comfort as you go through the coming days.