Memorial
Lyle Gary Rummel was born in Kansas on 5 June 1952, to Jessie and Herman Rummel. He spent his childhood in the Missouri Ozarks, a time and place he often fondly remembered. Along with his younger siblings Alan and Deanna, he explored the woodlands, hills, and springs, as they picked berries and wildflowers for their mother. He grew up quickly, helping out on the family farm; taking care of his youngest siblings, Mark, Lisa, and Sue; and carrying a gas can for his dad who worked as a sawyer for the nearby sawmill.
After a short time in the Army, he moved to St. Louis to work as a carpenter with his father. Their work carried them throughout the region, to places like Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Maquoketa, Iowa, where he met the mother of his two children, April and Darin. Gary married Cindy Klein in 1977, and a few years later they moved to Hale, Iowa, before settling in Olin and starting a family there. While continuing work as a carpenter, he also grew large gardens and sold at farmers markets. Later, he worked as a machine operator at PMX Industries in Cedar Rapids for 12 years until his retirement in 2010. He made many fine pieces of furniture for the home, enjoyed drinking beer while talking with his friends and listening to country music, and loved to go camping.
In his retirement, Gary enjoyed experimenting with hobby electronics, fixing old tube radios, making toys for his grandchildren, and spending time with his beloved orange tabby cat, Sophie. He passed peacefully from this life at Linn Manor Care Home on 22 August 2026. He is preceded in passing by his father Herman, and his mother Jessie. He is survived by his siblings, Alan, Deanna, Mark, Charsue, and Lisa. He is also survived by his children, Darin and April, and his grandchildren Benjamin, Emma, Chloe, Noah, Jeremiah, and Isaiah.
A ceremony to celebrate Gary’s life will be held at the Olin City Park on 26 September from 1 to 4 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided and visitors are welcome to bring snacks if they wish. In lieu of flowers, donations are welcome at the Gary Rummel Memorial Family Fund on GoFundMe to help family members in Texas and Kansas attend the ceremony:
https://gofund.me/79ec6c400