A funeral Mass for Thomas W. Garry, of Bancroft, was held on Monday, June 10, 2024, at 10:30 AM, at Divine Mercy Parish ~ St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Bancroft, with Father Zach Jones, Father John Thomas, Deacon William Black, and Deacon David Penton officiating. Interment followed at St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery in Bancroft.
Tom died peacefully at Homestead Assisted Living and Memory Care in Algona on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at the age of 86. From our weekly virtual poker games, he left his family with a poker debt of $165, but he gave them so much more. He left a legacy of service, storytelling, laughter and love for his family and friends. We will never call someone a flatass without thinking of our ChaCha. His smile brightened a room and his laugh was worth the effort.
Thomas William “Twid” Garry was born July 12, 1937, in Bancroft the 6th of 8 children of Thomas D. and Florence A. (Sandschulte) Garry. Twid was the quintessential small-town guy and would always be proud of his roots in Bancroft. He overcame polio as a child and went on to play basketball and baseball for St. John’s, well enough to tell inflated stories about his abilities for years to come. In 1956, he graduated from St. John’s, after serving as class president no less, and went on to attend Fort Dodge Community College and then Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago, IL.
While in Chicago, one fateful night, Tom caught the eye of Adrienne Lucchesi at a college hangout and stole her heart. It took the next five years to convince her to leave the windy city and move to small town Iowa. Tom and Ade were married on February 27th of 1965, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Chicago and they returned to Bancroft where Tom worked with his father at Garry Funeral Home. Tom never shied away from hard work. In earlier years he also operated an ambulance service, giving dual duty to the hearse as well as Garry Furniture Store. Later Tom expanded his funeral home into what is now known as Oakcrest Funeral Services. He took pride in serving the needs of others and he cherished all the friendships that were made throughout his 35 years as a funeral director. It made him very proud to know that his sons, Victor and Tony also made the career choice of being funeral directors.
In October of 2000, Tom and Ade decided it was time for Tom to retire and turn over the keys to his portion of the Oakcrest Funeral Empire to his son, Victor. Tom had always wanted to be a farmer and he was finally able to devote time to his garden which then led to hobby squirrel and rabbit hunting. He loved to golf, play tennis, fish, and play cards. He enjoyed listening to stories almost as much as telling them. Tom’s faith was always something that was important to him, he found renewed connections by attending many Jesuit retreats. He was a member of the St. John’s Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, Lions Club, Rotary International, and the Iowa Funeral Directors Association. He also was a member of the Bancroft Chamber of Commerce, and the Bancroft Building Company, and he served on the Bancroft City Council.
To his grandkids, he was known as Papa Tom. He was always happy when he was with family. In his later years, Tom was well cared for at Homestead Assisted Living and Memory Care and the Garry Family would like to thank the staff for everything they did for Tom as well as the entire family. We would also like to thank Hospice of the Heartland for their exemplary care and Fr. John Thomas and Deacon Bill Black who supported and prayed with Tom often. We ask that memorials will be directed to organizations that were dear to Tom’s family, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Hospice of the Heartland, Kossuth County Dementia Care, and Homestead Assisted Living and Memory Care.
Tom Garry is survived by his wife of 59 years, Adrienne; five children, Kathleen (Gordon) Schiltz of Eagan, MN, Colleen Kennedy of Plymouth, MN, Victor (Tricia) Garry of Algona, Janeen (Michael) Tiedt of Readlyn, and Anthony (Julie) Garry of Lake Zurich, IL; Grandchildren: Samantha Schiltz, Thomas Schiltz, Raymond Kennedy, Megan (Taylor) Ashworth, Rachel Kennedy, Benjamin Kennedy, Alex (Jeff Joneson) Garrison, Madeline Garry, Lucchesi “Luke” Garry, Elizabeth Tiedt, Andrew Tiedt, Isabella Garry, and Jack Garry. He is also survived by two brothers, Phil (Janis Teal) Garry of Albuquerque, NM; and George (Beverly) Garry of Osseo, MN; a sister-in-law, Mary Anne Garry of Cedar Rapids; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and special friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas D. and Florence Garry; his parents-in-law, Victor and Jane Lucchesi; his brothers, Richard (Phyllis) Garry, Patrick (Theresa) Garry and their daughter Margaret Garry; and John “Jack” Garry; his sisters, Louise Garry and Rose Eisele; and his sister-in-law, Alice (Walsh) Garry.
As a husband, father, and grandfather, Tom always strived to live up to a quote that he had tucked in his Bible and referenced often to, “Our best work and greatest contribution to the world comes when we show up as our true imperfect vulnerable selves.”
Oakcrest Funeral Services of Bancroft in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be made to www.oakcrestfuneralservices.com.
