Gary Sedam

Gary Lane Sedam, 61, of Joy, passed away Friday, Nov. 11, 2011, at home, ending his long journey with cancer. He was surrounded by his loving family in his final moments. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14 at Dennison Funeral Home, Aledo. Services will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 15 at the First Baptist Church, Joy. Burial will be at the New Boston Cemetery. Gary was born in Muscatine, Iowa, on Dec. 12, 1949, the son of Harlan Sedam and Donna Brown Sedam. He married Merri Hinderliter on Aug. 18, 1973, in Keithsburg. He lived his dream of farming for 13 years for Don and Iris Hawn of Keithsburg. After that, Gary worked for Hon Oak Laminate. He recently retired after 24 years of service. From 1970 to 1990, he loved playing fast-pitch softball. In the softball world he was known as "Turkey." He also enjoyed coaching for three years in the 1990s, eighth grade girls basketball for Westmer. In his spare time he liked mowing his lawn, working in his garden and most of all, spending time with his family. Survivors include his wife, Merri; daughter, Dawn Cheesman and fiance, Steve Newman, and grandchildren, Blake and Brooke Cheesman, all of Kewanee; siblings, Rita (Steve) Ferguson, New Boston, Allan (Sheila) Sedam, Aledo, Laura (Jake) Long, New Boston, Mary (Bill) McMeekan, Viola, Terry Sedam, Keithsburg, and Fran (Dave) Webber, Atalissa, Iowa; aunts, Ruth Dennison, Peanuts Vandervort, Jerry Nylin, all of Keithsburg, Shirley Litwiler, Connie Freeman and Marsha Loving, all of Aledo, and Betty Sedam, Muscatine; mother-in-law, Mary Hinderliter, Galesburg; sister-in-law, Terri Kokemuller, Clinton, Iowa, brother-in-law, Steve (Jo) Hinderliter, Matherville; and a very special aunt and uncle, Joyce and Bob Hinderliter, Glasford, Ill. Gary was also blessed with many other loving family members and friends, too numerous to mention. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harlan and Donna Sedam; a brother, Larry Sedam; and a nephew, Mark Kernan. Memorials may be made to the Make a Wish Foundation of the First Baptist Church, Joy.