Gary B. Gsell was born on September 17, 1943 at the St. Francis Hospital in Maryville, MO.  He passed away on Friday, November 1, 2024 at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, NE.  His parents, Harrietta Williamson and Jonas Clayton Gsell, raised him on a farm near Clearmont, MO.  He graduated from the West Nodaway R-1 High School in Burlington Jct., MO in 1962.  A year later he married Janet Lynn Osburn on Valentine's Day at the Baptist Church in Clarinda, IA.  They made their home in Shenandoah, IA where they had two children, Darla and Terry.  Gary was baptized at the Baptist Church in Shenandoah and was their church bus driver and Sunday school teacher.

He started his professional career with Tyler Bottling Company in Shenandoah in 1963.  He managed that facility from 1977 through the good times of Mid-Continent Bottling of Omaha till 1987 when he was transferred to Norfolk NE.  While managing the Norfolk location, a notable accolade was a 17% increase in sales for one year.  In 2008 he retired after 44 years, 7 months, and 19 days with Dr Pepper.

In their retirement Gary and Janet purchased a camper and enjoyed their travelling adventures.  They spent their winters in McAllen, TX.  His son-in-law, Randy, approached him with, "You two need to move closer to us, so when the time comes, we can look after you two."  Soon after, they purchased a home 1 block from Darla and Randy in Sidney, IA.  Janet passed away on Jan. 1, 2013, 51 years from the day they met with 49 years, 10 months and 2 weeks of marriage.

Gary was heavily involved in the community while living in Shenandoah and Norfolk.  He was a member of the Shenandoah Jaycees serving as a local President, State Vice President and was presented a US Jaycees Lifetime Membership Award.  He was a member of the local Shenandoah Optimist Club and served as president for a year.  Gary helped organized the fireworks for Shenandoah's 4th of July celebration for 15 years along with many of his friends.  He was a volunteer with the Shenandoah Emergency Medical Service as an EMTA.  Gary and Janet pioneered the Norfolk Public High School Band Boosters and together served as Chairmen for a year.  Together Gary and Janet volunteered for the Boy Scouts of America for over 25 years.  He served as a Scout Master, District Commissioner both in Shenandoah and in Norfolk.  He organized a District Webelos Campout, and the extraordinary Scout Rendezvous for 12 years hosting as many as 1,500 Scouts and Scouters at Camp Butterfield.  He received the District Scouter of the Year Award and the District Award of Merit while living in Shenandoah and in Norfolk, as well as the esteemed Council Silver Beaver Award in Norfolk.  He had the opportunity to trek the rugged Philmont Scout Ranch backpacking adventure in New Mexico, and participated in the BSA World Jamboree in Fort AP Hill, VA along with tens of thousands of attendees.  In recent years, Gary attended Cornerstone Church in Nebraska City, NE.

Gary is preceded in death by his wife Janet (Osburn) Gsell, parents Harrietta (Williamson) Gsell Coker, step-father Oral Coker, and father Jonas Clayton Gsell.  He is survived by daughter Darla and husband Randy Moreland of Sidney, IA, son Terry Gsell and husband Luís Martinez Morales of Philadelphia, PA, grandson Drew and wife Alissa Moreland, great granddaughter Braxie and great grandson Nash of Thurman, IA, grandson Dustin and wife Toni Moreland, and great grandson Deegan of Anderson, IA, brother-in-law Jerry and wife Jess Osburn of Panora, IA, brother-in-law John and wife Sandy Swanson of Des Moines, IA, girlfriend Teresa Jackson of College Springs, IA, and loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

His tradition of community service continues to touch the lives of others through his organ & tissue donation.

Celebration of life memorial graveside service will be held 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 6, 2024 at the Sidney Cemetery in Sidney, Iowa.  Memorials may be directed to the Sidney Fire Department or Samaritans Purse Christmas Box Project.