Gary Lee Vinchattle

Callender - Gary Lee Vinchattle of Apple Valley, Minnesota passed away peacefully on July 23, 2023, just short of his 91st birthday. Graveside services will be 11:00 AM Wednesday August 2, 2023, at Callender Cemetery with Pastor Greg Stano and Pastor Deb Stano officiating and Military Rites by American Legion Peterson Post #431 of Gowrie. A luncheon will be served following the graveside service at Our Saviors Lutheran Church, Callender. Palmer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Gary was born in Slifer, Iowa on July 28, 1932 to Virgil and Edith (Knutson) Vinchattle. He attended Callender Public Schools, graduating in 1950. In October of 1952, he married Marilyn L. Anderson of Fort Dodge, Iowa, and shortly thereafter, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. Gary was a proud veteran of the Korean War serving for 2 years until his honorable discharge in 1954. After coming home from Korea, he returned to work at George A. Hormel in Fort Dodge, Iowa and continued working there until the plant closed in 1984. While at Hormel's he played on the Hormel's Local #31 Softball Team. In December of 1988, he married Linda A. Fertig of Fort Dodge, Iowa. Gary loved to fish, hunt, and play golf. After retirement he stayed active and walked 18 holes of golf almost every day. With friends and family, he spent a total of 3-4 weeks every year fishing on Whitefish Bay, Lake of the Woods, Canada. A bay was even named for him and was called Vinchattle Bay. Gary and Linda enjoyed traveling to Ireland and Scotland and particularly enjoyed a Viking River Cruise which ended in the Czech Republic and included a couple of days with relatives of the Vinchattle family who still resided there. Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Virgil and Edith Vinchattle, his sisters Judy (Vinchattle) Mikonowicz and Dee (Vinchattle) Means. He is survived by his wife of 35 years Linda (Fertig) Vinchattle; three children from his first marriage, Vicki (Layne) Pearson of Eagan, Minnesota, Denis Vinchattle of Fort Dodge, Iowa, and Julie Rabbitt of Gowrie, Iowa; three grandchildren, Carrie Rabbitt Pelz of Fort Dodge, Iowa, Zachary Pearson of Madison, Wisconsin, and Tyler Pearson of Eagan, Minnesota; three great grandchildren, McKenzie Conley of Ankeny, Iowa, Trevin Conley of Fort Dodge, Iowa and Alaina Pearson of Madison, Wisconsin; brother David Vinchattle of Bismarck, North Dakota, brother-in-law Dale Means of Apple Valley, Minnesota, sister-in-law Jana Baldwin of Fort Dodge, Iowa, brother-in-law Tim (Zenaida Chuchay) Fertig of San Diego, California; 12 nieces and nephews, and many great nieces and nephews.