OBIT: Gary Lee Angell

Gary Lee Angell, 74, of Mason City, IA passed away March 27, 2025, at Good Shepherd Health Center in Mason City, IA.

A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date.

Gary was born October 26, 1950 in Mason City, son of Donald and Marcile (Kofoot) Angell. He graduated from Mason City High School with the class of 1969. Growing up, he worked with his father with Angell Fencing. He adored his twin sister and took joy in being her best entertainment while she was ill. Gary met the love of his life, Linda Peterson while working part-time at the gas station. She was smitten with him the first time he called her “cutie”. Linda would bake him plenty of goodies and bring him food over at the gas station. They were married September 4, 1993 on the drag strip in Humboldt, Iowa. He took home two trophies that day, one for the race and the other as his beloved wife. For 31 years, he worked for the Post Office as a rural route mail carrier.

Gary was best known for being the knight in shining armor, reliable spider killer, and the man who could fix just about anything. He would lend a hand to anyone that needed the help. His passion was in drag racing and restoring old cars. He would find the oldest, most rusted out models and over the course of a few years; make it like it was fresh off the lot. No one else ever seemed to have the vision for what these cars could be with enough determination and knowhow. Despite everyone else’s high compliments on his work; he never felt they were good enough. Gary was his own worst critic, and oftentimes only kept his finished projects for a summer or two before he would have it sold and move on to his next big project. His more memorable restorations were a 1968 Dodge Hemi Dart; 1971 Dodge Demon, and a 1936 Dodge. He was best known as a Mopar enthusiast. Gary was also an avid coin collector and could tell you any number of things about the various rare pennies in his collection.

Those left to honor his memory are his wife, Linda; children, Heather Angell, Curtis (Katie) Angell, Chad (Tiffany) Angell, and Kristina Angell; grandchildren, Lily, Casey (Monty) Dye, Nicky, Zane, Abigayle, and Logan; great-grandchildren, Damon and Scarlet; father, Don Angell; twin sister, Sherry (Robert) Peterson; sister-in-law, Bev Adkins; brothers-in-law, Les (Alice) Peterson and Richard Peterson; as well as nieces, nephews, friends and extended family.

Preceding him in death are his mother, Marcile; parents-in-law, John and Dorothy Peterson; and brother-in-law, Bill Adkins.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family in care of Linda.

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