The family of Gary Alan Ferch mourned his demise when his soul departed for the Heavenly abode. He was 58 years old. He passed away at his home in 109 6th St. NW, Nora Springs on 30 December 2011 Friday. His funeral services were held by his family on 3 January 2012, at 10.30 AM at Nora Springs First United Methodist Church, 202 N. Hawkeye Avenue. The visitation was held between 4 and 7 pm on 2 January 2012 Monday at Sheckler Colonial Chapel, 114 North Hawkeye, Nora Springs, Iowa.

Alan Ferch’s interment took place amid full military honors and conducted by Nora Springs America Legion Post 449 at Park Cemetery, Nora Springs.

Those who are willing to make memorial contributions shall do it towards Gary Ferch Memorial Fund.

Alan Ferch was born to parents Lloyd and Eleanor Louise (Fernelius) Ferch on 9 August 1953 in Minneapolis. He was preceded by his father Lloyd Ferch in death. He is survived by his mother, Eleanor Louise of Hopkins, MN, wife, Carolyn, sons, Mike (Jamie Thompson) Ferch of Mason City and Dallas Ferch of Nora Springs. He would be missed by his beloved granddaughter Mikayla Ferch of Mason City too with whom he used to enjoy playing video games and shared a lot of other common interests.

His presence will be missed by his mother-in-law Alice Wilkins of Nora Springs, sisters Linda (Mark) Fritch of Maplewood and Dianna (Kirk) Bredenberg of Cedar Rapids, IA. His beloved brother, Duane Ferch of Hopkins MN would also have him in his thoughts and prayers. His family and extended family consisting of brothers in law and sisters in law, Connie (Paul) Yerkes of Greene, Brian (Denise) Wilkins of Mason City, Jim Wilkins of Clear Lake, Alan (Dodie) Wilkins of Portland, IA, would keep him in their prayers. Alice (Tim) Kaasa of Nora Springs and Sharon (Todd) Hauser of Mason City, Larry Wilkins of Mason City and Ron (Kris) Wilkins of Nora Springs would miss him a lot too.

Certainly, it is for sure that only a person who has been there for everyone and who has helped people or lead a happy life with everyone would be missed so much. Alan Ferch had graduated from Hopkins High School from Hopkins, MN. He then went on to serve the country and showed bravery and total patriotism in the Vietnam War times. He later got married to Carolyn on 18 December.

It was during that time, when Alan Ferch and his wife were living in California and it was there that he worked at McDonald Douglas Aircraft Manufacturing and studied from home a course on locksmith. Later, he also successfully became a Surgical Tech from Southwest Technical Institute.

Ferch is a lover of pets, and he has dogs, cat, and pet squirrel at home. His pet squirrel was named Rocky and Pepper, is the cat, and Cookie and Luke are the two dogs. As a family man, he loved spending time with his children and grandchild and even had friends and relatives at home often.