Gordon Ray Fetter
September 23, 1954 ~ May 3, 2013
Gordon 'Gordy' Ray Fetter, 58, of Cedar Rapids, died Friday, May 3, 2013. Funeral Services: 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 8, 2013, at Cedar Valley Bible Church, 3636 Cottage Grove Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids, by Rev. Tom Fogle. A meal for family and friends will follow the funeral services. Visitation: 4-8 p.m. on Tuesday, at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids, and also an hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. Gordy was born September 23, 1954, the son of Frank and Elaine (Novak) Fetter in Belle Plaine, Iowa. He graduated from South Tama High School in 1973, then from Kirkwood Community College. Gordy married Lisa Jackson in 1978, in Cedar Rapids, and they had two children, Jackie and Jordan. In 1995, he married Rayetta Dunker Yoder in Marion, Iowa. Gordy provided loving care and dedication to Rayetta prior to her death in 2012. He worked for UPS for 36 years, retiring in 2012. Gordy was very active and enjoyed staying fit no matter how much he would eat out with his friends and family. He had a great passion for bicycling and was a member of several area bike clubs. He rode in RAGBRAI eight times and recently completed the Copper Triangle in Colorado. He worked out every day and liked his spinning class and scuba diving. Basketball was a great highlight for him, playing for South Tama and for Kirkwood. Gordy went on to play in the Iowa Games, winning the team title in 1990 and 1991. He was also a National 3-on-3 champion in 1996, with his brothers, Mark and Tom. Gordy and Rayetta were an integral part of the PAX program, hosting and coordinating events for international exchange students. He and Rayetta developed a close relationship with two students, Juliene Casio helping her family improve their living conditions in the Philippines and Norman Bechler, traveling with his family for a month in Europe. He traveled extensively internationally, often visiting and maintaining relationships with students and their families. Gordy also went on several mission trips, including Russia and China helping spread God's word. He has been a member of Cedar Valley Bible Church for over 30 years. He will be remembered for his quick smile and infectious laugh. Gordy will be greatly missed by his family and friends from around the world. Survivors include his father, Frank Fetter of Toledo, Iowa; daughter, Jackie Fetter of Cedar Rapids; son, Jordan (Sarah) Fetter of Cedar Rapids; step-children, Rachel (Mike) Stahley and Jon (Lisa) Yoder; siblings, Tom (Mary Jane) Fetter of Manchester, Mark (Diana) Fetter of Toledo, Shelley (Paul) Ziemer Fetter of Parker, Colorado, Doug (Paula) Fetter of Pleasant Hill, Iowa, and Roberta (Sam) Luckel of Solon; former spouse, Lisa Jackson of Cedar Rapids; and many nieces and nephews. Gordy was preceded in death by his mother, Elaine; wife, Rayetta; his grandmother, Gladys Novak; and several other grandparents. Memorials are suggested to PAX or the Cedar Valley Bible Church. Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids, is committed to caring for Gordon and his family.
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To the Fetter family:
My prayers are with you at this difficult time. Know that you are being held in the palms of God’s hands. May you feel the love and grace of God.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Fetter Family. May all your memories of Gordy be of confort to you. He will be missed. May God Bless each of you!
So sorry for your loss. Gordy was a great person. He will be missed.
So sorry to hear this. Gordy was one of the nicest guys you could ever hope to meet and will be missed.
Condolences to family and friends.
We knew Gordon as warm and caring to everyone he met. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Fetter family at this difficult time.
Goodbye, Uncle. We love you very much!
May the God of comfort give us all comfort. We are so sad. May the God of hope give us all hope. We are so thankful for the blessed hope in Jesus and look forward to being with Gordy for eternity!
Great Gordy!
When I was told that Gordon and Rayetta were going to the Ukraine for a 10 day missions trip and were going to visit orphanages there, I knew I had to go! To hear Gordy laugh with those kids and to just love them no matter what the situation was, was just awesome! He was always smiling when I saw him, and I really enjoyed every conversation with him. I also remember going over to his house after Rayetta died to help him tear down wallpaper with some of the college kids from our church and we had a good time talking and laughing with him. I couldn’t believe that he could eat about 6-7 pieces of pizza and still look as if he ate none. It’s really hard to express just how much Gordy meant to my husband Gordon and I. I just really wish we could have done more for him after Rayetta died but I think he thought he was imposing, I feel we should have bothered him more so he didn’t feel lonely, everyone loved Gordy, and he will be sorely missed. I will miss his high-pitched laugh and giggle, and all the wonderful ways he would talk to me about Jesus, If it wasn’t for Patty Klaus, we may never have met the Fetter’s. Thank you Patty! Gordy was so faithful and thought and talked about Jesus as much as he could. I remember whenever we went over to his house he would always share the current days daily bread with us and was really passionate about it too! Goodbye Gordy, we love you!
Praying for you all, we will miss Gordy VERY much!
Gordy was a good friend!!!he will be missed dearly…my prayers and thoughts
to the Fetter family…….
I send my condolences to the entire Fetter family. I pray you all will feel Jesus’ loving embrace as you go through the days ahead.
Doug Oscarson
-I work with Doug Fetter.
Bye Gordon…May you rest in peace….we are really missing
you. you are forever be remembered and your memories will live forever in our hearts…
My thoughts and prayers are with you. I’m so sorry for the loss of your loved one. May GOD’s peace and comfort be with you.
We are all so sorry for your loss. Gordy was our UPS driver….He was always a ray of sunshine! He was such a positive, uplifting and upbeat person!
We are all so sorry for your loss. Gordy was our UPS driver (before he retired)….He was always a ray of sunshine! He was such a positive, uplifting and upbeat person!
I am shocked to hear of Gordy’s death. He was a part of our “Chelsea Gang.” I remember him fondly. His promotion to heaven is wonderful.
My heart breaks for you, Fetter family!
I have so many happy memories of playing at Jackie’s house when we were kids. Gordon always made sure we had fun. He’d make us chocolate chip pancakes and let us sleep in the backyard in a tent. This stuff is pretty awesome when you’re 10 years old! Each and every time I saw Gordon, he had a sweet happy smile on his face. He always wanted to know how everything was in our lives. He was always so caring and supportive.
My thoughts and prayers are with the family. Gordon will be missed.
~Marie Young (Long)
I only knew gordy from the spinning class that I attend. He was such a nice guy and always brought out your smile even at those 5 am spinning classes. I am sorry for the families loss. Best wishes and condolences.
My condolences to the family. Gordie was such a nice person.
I enjoyed working with him at UPS.
We are very sorry to hear about the recent loss which must have been hard for the entire family. We hope that you find comfort in knowing that Gordon is in a better place, were he wanted to be. It makes us so sadden, that Norman lost his best American Dad and we, Manfred and Gitta a much-loved friend.
Gordon we miss you for the next cruises.
In Love
Norman, Manfred, Gitta, Svenja, Julian
Sorry to hear about the loss of your father! I was a driver with Gordy, back in the old Cedar Rapids building…. Always had that big smile on his face and a kind word in his heart! Great person to work with, always willing to lend a hand.
Thoughts and prayers go out to the family.
Gordy’s infectious smile, positive attitude and energy inspired others and will be greatly missed by the 5 AM crowd. We marveled at his biking ability and could only hope we will be somewhat close to his speed at age 50-something!
I will always remember Gordy’s sense of humor. He was fun loving and positive. I am sorry for your loss.
I’ll think of Gordon every time the sun rises on a perfect day for a ride or run. He was a true friend and competitor.
I’ll never forget the time he caught up to me during the Marion Turkey Trot. He ran with me for a few minutes; he was making jokes and keeping me entertained. Then, he left me in the dust! I didn’t realize Gordan was a runner! He showed me! We’ve had many runs and bike rides since then and Gordan was always the light of each event. His positive attitude up the steep hills of Wisconsin and the even steeper mountains of Colorado was always inspiring. He was always looking out for those of us who didn’t have a prayer of keeping up on those speedy morning bike rides. I will miss him so much!
My heart goes out to Gordy’s family and many friends.
Our hearts go out to the whole Fetter family. You are such a great family, and we all want you to know we are keeping you in our prayers. May you feel God’s loving arms around you during this difficult time. We love you all!
A blessing from thousand of miles away
It all started about 6 years ago when Dad Gordon decided to become their exchange student. He made me feel like I am an angel and a princess with his loving actions as a father. I never felt loved like that before I traveled thousand miles. They made me experience extraordinary things such as teaching me how to ride bicycle, trying to treat me to fancy restaurants, and the most special Birthday in my life… With mom Rayetta and Dad Gordon, I felt pain when I returned to Philippines after almost a year in their loving arms. After a year of being back in the Philippines, they decided to come and visit me and my family. It was a great Joy to be with them and be able to hold them once again… those smiles were so precious and unforgettable. After few years more, they came back again with great friends from church and came us build a new house with their purest and kindest intention of making my family and I important. They strengthened our faith, encouraged us and taught us how to become thankful of all the blessings God has showered upon us.
A year ago when mom died, dad has always told me how was blessed of meeting great people in His life. He then continued in supporting me through my college years… and during my last months in school he surprised me with a call that he is going to come on my graduation. I was teary eyed and was touched. During my graduation I felt so happy when he came to stage and hang the medal on my neck for making it to the top among more than 500 students. Dad always made me feel how special I am and how I am a blessing to him, when in fact I am more proud for being her daughter and for having a father like him. He always lifted me up in times when I was down. We shared laughters together and wonderful memories. When he decided to back home to America he would still ask me how I am and how I am doing with my family… he always though of others before thinking of himself… I will never forget how he loved me like a true daughter.
TO all the people he loved, He truly loved you all… He always shared great stories about people and how great they are. He truly loved his family and especially his children. He always told me how Great God was.
and with him… I learned to stay strong… and with my upcoming board examination… I lift up the throne and the efforts to dad. How I wished that Dad will be with me when I get my licensed… we planned for it, but I guess all I can hope is that he will still be with me holding my hands and giving me a great hug and the greatest smile of all.
I will miss you dad… I love you
Gord, i can’t forget you.,,all the memories still remains.. the love, care , smile ,happiness and laughter that you brought to me and to all my families..you made my life colorful Gord.. you are gone but you still remains in my heart and in my mind.. i know that you are in good hands now. i know that you are still here in my side always and leading me the right way to God.. I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH GORD.. I MISS YOU FOREVER !!! REST IN PEACE MY HONEY GORD..
You knew when Gordy was in your company. His laughter and smile were vibrant and infectious; he always had a warm greeting and a word of encouragement. His positive attitude was an inspiration. I did not know Gordy outside of the Rec Center, but even in that small community it was clear that he had a spiritual heart. Through his stories, it was clear that he was very a very proud husband, father and grandfather. He took great pride in talking about the trials and tribulations that others managed through; he never took credit for his contributions to their successes. I extend my deepest sympathies to Gordy’s family and many friends.
To the Fetter Family…Condolence. Dad was really a happy, encourager, and great father, friend, brother and comforter in times of sadness.
Dad is now watching over us all. He truly loved us all…and he will continually protect us from evil.
I & my family convey our heartfelt gratitude for touching our lives & live in Christian faith. We truly love you & we will always will. Thanks for everything. You’re the best American we’ve ever met. May you rest in peace Big Bro Gordon. We will surely miss you.
To the Fetter Family…Condolence. Dad was really a happy, encourager, and great father, friend, brother and comforter in times of sadness.
Dad is now watching over us all. He truly loved us all…and he will continually protect us from evil.
To the Fetter Family…Condolence. Dad was really a happy, encourager, and great father, friend, brother and comforter in times of sadness.
Dad is now watching over us all. He truly loved us all…and he will continually protect us from evil.
My sincere condolences to Fetter family.Dad Gordon left us with tons of memories that could never be stolen. I will treasure all those memories, I miss you every minute of everyday. I love you dad, til forever. May you rest in God’s hands.
My uncle from Traer called and told me about Gordy. I was his next door neighbor and remember Gordy as “full of the devil”. So many things I remember about him as we were growing up. My deepest sympathy goes out to all of the family. You have so many good memories to remember him by.
Gordy was the NICEST person that you could ever meet!!! He will be missed by MANY people!! I for one!
P. S. I watched him many times play at S.T.C.
Mark and family:
Please accept my condolences.
Dear Jackie,
I am deeply sorry for the loss of your father. He sounds like an incredible man. Please know you are in my thoughts and that you have my deepest sympathies.
Call if there is anything at all I can do for you.
Sincerely, Laurie Lindeman
Larry went to school with Gordy. We really enjoyed visiting with Gordy this past summer when the STC Class of 1973 had their reunion. He was always smiling & such a friendly guy & so easy to visit with. We sure will miss him.
Saddened to learn tonight of Gordy’s death. To the entire Fetter family my deepest sympathy.
I am so sorry to hear if Gordon’s passing. I remember all the late night talks him and my mom had growing up and for his wonderful sense of humor. He always made you feel welcome in his home and was a great family friend. We enjoyed spending time with him, his kids and rayetta. I am praying for you all. He truely was a great man and I’m glad to have known him.
I just wanted to express my sympathy to your family for the loss of Gordon. I personally did not know him but one of my students was his “little brother” through the Big Brother program. Nate talked to me about him all of the time and really enjoyed the time they got to spend together. As I read the obituary I realized that he was from my hometown and graduated with my father-in-law. Not to mention, I’ve known Mark and Diana (and the girls) for years and years. I am so incredibly sorry for your loss. My heart is heavy for all of you. I felt as though I knew him through Nate and he seemed like such a gem of a man.
leigh anderson
I was an exchange student during 2011-2012 studing at wash and Gordon did a marvelous job as my coordinator during my first months in the states, I will always have a place in my heart for him, he was such an adorable big hearted man, who always tried to cheer us up by doing cool activities. It was the most dreadful news to hear that he passed away, though I know Gordon’s faith was strong and nowhe is in a better place with our all loving God and with Christ our savior,, he is also with rayetta now ,something he sure wanted , LOVE from the Basque Country, Gordon’s friends and family will be in my prayers.
I was so sorry to hear about the passing of Gordie… He was a good friend to my husband Bob and me. They worked together at UPS for many years. Gordie visited him often when he was going through cancer treatment. He always made us laugh. I’m sure they’re shootin’ the breeze up there watching over all of us!! My sincere sympathy goes out to the entire family.
I’m trying to understand why this happened, this is very upsetting for me. When my wife and I moved to Iowa we found it difficult to make friendships, but Gordon and Rayetta quickly became good friends and we spent a lot of time with them regularly. After my wife passed away, Gordon was there for me, he called me every week to check on me, he was just there to talk – we kept being a friend when everyone else turned their back on me – this is just very upsetting. Miss you buddy.
My deepest condolences to the Fetter family at this very sad time. Gordie was a wonderful person.