Obituary of Gary Bill Schippers

Gary Bill Schippers, 77, will be buried at the Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter, Iowa on March 29th, 2024, at 2p.m. Please gather at the Chapel. ALL ARE WELCOME to attend.  Gary lived his life according to that creed. 

Gary Bill Schippers, was born to Milton and Rose (Smith) Schippers on March 26, 1946, was ushered into Heaven on February 24,2024. Gary was met by those who preceded him. The loving arms that welcomed him home included his parents and siblings, Marilyn, Virginia, Jacqueline and Rebecca, more recently having passed his wife of 20 years Anna (Benac) in 2019, his son Joshua in 2020 (aka Big Ship), his son-in law Noe (Castillo) in 2020 and his granddaughter Dallis (Harrison) in 2019.

   Although Gary had a hard time showing his affection, he held his family close to his heart and made that clear by his support to them throughout the years. Those who will honor Gary's life and legacy are countless:

   SaraJane and (John) Ratcliff and their children-Jerney, Megan and Rayna (Shores) and Mikhail (Ratcliff)

Gina Castillo and children- Christian (Delani) Kelso, Vianna, Sofia, Riley and great grandkids Zoe and Ethan (Lund)

Camielle and (Joshua) Schippers and child Olivia Justin and (Lacy) Schippers and children Mackenzie ( mother Jamie Weter), Jacob, grand-daughter Danielle (Hobbs-Harrison) and great grandchildren: Gema (Reeves) and Aglaia (Harrison)

   Gary was especially close to his nephew Curtis Johns who always took the time to reach out and see how Gary was doing or host Gary on his trips trucking across America.

   There would not be enough space to contain the names of all of Gary's friends, however Buddy Shaw was a friend of over 35 years and a fellow Veteran. They spent a majority of their time tearing up card tables and shooting dice or hanging out at Buddy's Bar in downtown Des Moines.

   Virgil Henning and Don "Milton the Monster" Little were a part of almost every story (my dad could remember) from the 60s and 70s  hanging out at the pool hall  or drag racing Gary's 1965 Mustang he took pride in having ordered out of the magazine. The stories he would tell about that car and the ones told to his kids by retired deputies who knew Gary well, too well, are cherished memories that will be passed down for generations. Gary the youngest of five siblings and the only boy, was adored by his older sisters Marilyn, Virginia and Jackie but being closer in age to Becky he was especially close to her but never forgave her for throwing sand at him which got caught between his eyes and his glasses...it was a lot of sand! He and Becky both loved re-telling that story of course in their own versions! It should be mentioned Gary and his father-in-law Vincent Benac were close and spent most Saturdays having coffee together after Vince would wake Gary up doing figure 8s with his El Camino "Your Dad is here Anna..." as he rolled out of bed to put the coffee on in their first home in Aurora Park prior to having children.

   The Schippers kids were raised in an immaculate home in Newton while both Milton and Rose supported the family through their employment at Maytag. Gary was very proud of his parents.

   Gary graduated from Newton Senior High, attended art school for a while until he enlisted in the Air Force during the Vietnam Era. He worked a rivet gun turning sheet metal into the bodies of planes.

Gary married Anna Benac in 1971 but not before completing his confirmation at the white steeple Lutheran church on First Avenue. Gary and Anna moved to Longmont, Colorado with their infant daughter Sara (born in '74)) so Gary could try his hand as a salesman and be near to family in the area. They soon returned to Iowa to live in Sully.

Their second daughter Gina was born in '78. Gary was kind of upset that Gina was born a girl and walked out of the hospital after finding out (her sister loved to re-tell that story). Gary and Anna later moved to Newton above the pool hall where they lived when Joshua, Garys first son and third child was born in '79. Gary had his son at long last. By the time Gary's son Justin was born, in '81, they lived in a small home on 4th Avenue. Gary wanted a baseball team of kids. 4 was the total when said and done. Gary and Anna raised their children in Newton, Iowa until their divorce in 1992.

Anna and Gary loved to bowl, dance and have a "good time". Gary would take his kids sledding at their grandparents home across from the gun club eating Leolas "dry" peanut butter fudge, Leola (Benac) would give  Gary crap right back telling him "If you want creamy fudge, make it yourself Gary."  Gary was never one to withhold criticism when it came to food and loved to give Leola a hard time. They both found joy in it. Gary and his kids spent many a snowy evening doing figure 8’s in the mall parking lot after hanging out at the arcade inside the Newton Mall. Riding on his lap steering the Monte Carlo though Maytag Park was a pastime they will hold near and dear. We are all better drivers because of our dad. Gary loved all his children yet his oldest SaraJane was nearer and dearer. She cared for Gary at the end of his life. Prior to that stage SaraJane took on Gary's business needs for his business, Schippers Trucking, while also watching over his home and  beloved pitbull Sugar, while Gary was over the road. 

"Asphalt Gary" spent over 40 years driving over the road and received a final call on CB radio. Hearing all the trucks honk their horns in his honor was a magical moment. Prior to running his own trucking business, Gary worked at Manatts in Newton on the road crew learning every machine they had. In the 90s Gary went on to work as a lab tech at Des Moines Asphalt until a conflict of interests and safety compelled him to cash in his retirement and buy his first big rig to drive all year round. 18 wheels and 18 gears and millions of miles...his story is told at countless truck stop diners. He is a legend in the trucking industry. 

   Gary was a member of the LGBTQ community in Des Moines, Iowa. Out donating Wells Fargo and Hy-Vee, Gary aided in establishing the Michael Shepherd scholarship, taking a stand against hate crimes.

   Gary's support of friends and family was not only monetary although it cannot be argued he was a giver. If one of his kids, grand-kids or friends found themselves without a place to lay their head there was never a doubt that Gary would open up his 4 bedroom home and kitchen cupboards to those in need.

   Gary invested in buying more semis over the years and when he survived a stroke in 2019, he made sure his drivers were titled their big rigs so they "could continue making an income and take care of their families"

   Gary was an overcomer beating prostate cancer in 2014, radiation poison from treatment. Gary also beat heart attacks and strokes throughout the years after. Gary was an HIV/AIDS survivor. He made contributions to the HIV/AIDS community that many will never know of.

   Grandpa Gary supported his grandchildren by providing funding for immunizations, school supplies and he didn't skip a beat to buy them tickets to Adventureland or their first car.

Gary loved and is loved. He will be missed by all who knew him however his legacy of love and sacrifice will live on in the stories he told and those told of him...did I mention his laugh? Iconic!

   In lieu of flowers memorials to help cover the cost of Gary's final arrangements can be made on his behalf to Pence-Reese Funeral Home, 310 N. 2nd Avenue E., Newton. Iowa. 50208 email: jpence@penceresse.com..