May 16, 1946 – January 9, 2025
Gary Lee Compston, 78, passed away on January 09, 2025 at Mercy One Medical Center North Iowa.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M., Friday, January 17, 2025 at Schott Funeral Home, 505 N Clark St, Forest City, Iowa 50436. Visitation will continue from 10:00 until service time at the church on Saturday.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, January 18, 2024 at Forest City United Methodist Church, 305 S Clark St, Forest City, IA 50436 with Rachel Eggum Cinader officiating.
Burial will be held in Oakland Cemetery in Forest City, Iowa.
Military Honors will be performed by the Forest City American Legion Post #121.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Forest City United Methodist Church, or to donor’s choice.
Gary was born on May 16, 1946 in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin to parents Garland “Jack” and Anna Laura (Clark) Compston. He and his parents moved around the country until settling in Forest City, Iowa in 1954. Growing up, his parents raised dogs and owned and operated several theater businesses.
He graduated from Forest City High School in 1965. After graduation, he attended Waldorf College. Gary enlisted in the United States Navy in 1967. He was assigned to the USS Wainwright and worked in the boiler room. He was proud to have served for his country and was honorably discharged in 1971.
Gary married Catherine Hill on August 19, 1973 at Glenwood Lutheran Church in Decorah, Iowa. They had one daughter, Catina.
In 1973, Gary and Cathy took ownership of the Forest City Theatre. He managed the Cresco Theatre and co-owned the Decorah Viking Theatre as well. Gary retired in 2011 and sold the Forest City Theater in the following year. In retirement, Gary was a driver for Lichtsinn RV. He was an avid college football enthusiast and enjoyed bowling from an early age.
Gary has had a long-time passion for fishing and hunting, making many friends and memories with the continuous opportunities brought along in his life. He enjoyed playing Mexican train dominoes, landscaping, traveling with his wife, collecting coins, and feeding and watching birds.
Family has always been very important to Gary, especially getting to teach his grandchildren how to fish and hunt. Gary was a member of the Camera Club, a lifetime member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, and The First United Methodist Church of Forest City.
Gary is survived by his wife, Cathy Compston of Forest City; daughter, Catina (Scott) Kinney of Grimes, IA; grandchildren, Brendon (Jennifer) Kinney of St. Joseph, MO and Abigail Kinney of Ames, IA; great- grandchildren, Emric and Emersyn Kinney; brother-in-law, Tom (Kathy) Hill; sister-in-law, Tracey (Jim) Sutton, sister-in-law, Lynn (Kevin) Thornton, and many nieces and nephews and honorary brother, Bill (Manette) Lamping.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Garland and Anna Compston; father and mother-in-law, Tilman (Marie Wikan) Hill and brother-in-law, Gary and wife (Maryann) Hill.
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