Gary G. Quee

Gary Quee, 80, of Huxley, formerly of Creston, died Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, in Ames. Memorial graveside services will be at a later date in Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Adel. Visitation, with family receiving friends, will be 2-4 p.m. Jan. 22, 2023, at Powers Funeral Home in Creston.

Online condolences may be made at www.powersfh.com.

Gary Gene Quee, was born March 4, 1942, to Reka Louise (Zishka) and Henry Johonnas Quee in Spencer. He moved with his family to a farm in Thayer when he was 7 and graduated from East Union Schools in 1961.

After graduation, Gary and one of his friends decided to enlist in the United States Army to get their required time done right away. Gary, however, was rejected due to a “flat spot on the top of his head,” told he would never have to serve and put in a class where he could be called in case of a national emergency. So, he went to work at Ford Motor Company in Creston.

He enjoyed working on cars and drag racing. At age 24, the Vietnam War occurred, and Gary was called up for active duty. He served from August 1966 through August 1968, in Vietnam as an airframe repairman. He was in charge of the sheet metal shop in their unit.

On returning home from Vietnam, he again worked at the Ford Motor Company until he was approached by Don Hardy of Floydada, Texas, and asked to come work for Don Hardy Race Cars helping build professional drag race cars. During the two and a half years he worked in Texas, he raced in Amarillo and surrounding drag race strips.

Gary returned to Iowa in late 1971 and was introduced to his future bride, Connie Reeves. The two were united in marriage Oct. 29, 1972, and began their lives in Creston. Gary built his second drag race car during their first year of marriage and taught Connie the ins and outs of drag racing.

In 1974, they added Amy Jo to their family and in 1979, Jennifer Marie completed their family. That would be his last year to drag race. Around 1990, Gary’s love of horses was reignited and he soon started raising and showing quarter horses. Later he developed a love of restoring old cars and selling car parts. During his lifetime he restored several cars and even two weeks before his death, you could find him in his garage working on them.

Over his life, Gary worked delivering papers in Thayer, working in filling stations, at Don Hardy Race Cars, the Ford dealership in Creston and later his own business, Quee Sheet Metal.

In 2013, Gary’s health started to fail and in 2019, he and Connie made the decision to move closer to one of their daughters. In December 2022, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor and was admitted to a hospice house where he quietly passed away three days later, surrounded by his wife and daughters.

Gary lived out his faith, and even near the end, when his memory was fading, you would find him praying before each meal to thank God for the blessings he had been given. He would often talk about one day hoping to be given the task of taking care of the white horse Christ will one day return on.

Survivors include his wife, Connie Quee of Huxley; two daughters, Amy (James) Kirkland of Leawood, Kansas, and Jennifer (David) Hyman of Huxley; six grandchildren: Carter and Grace Kirkland, Elizabeth, Nathan, Daniel and Caleb Hyman; a brother, Jack Quee of Afton; sister-in-law Carol (Rick) Mikkelsen of Orient; brother-in-law, Rodney Reeves of Burlington; many extended family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Jeanette Mangiaruca and Gladys “Jo” Webb; father and mother-in-law, Gerald and Amy Reeves; sisters-in-law, Coyla Yarrington and Mona Quee.