Gary Runge

Gary Lee Runge, 55, of Waterloo, Iowa formerly of Grundy Center, Iowa, passed away of natural causes, on Monday, June 4, 2012, at Harmony House Care Center in Waterloo, Iowa. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 8, 2012 at the American Lutheran Church in Grundy Center. A memorial visitation will be held one hour prior to the memorial service at the church. Burial will be held privately by the family at Rose Hill Cemetery in Grundy Center. Memorials may be directed to the family.

Gary was born on November 18, 1956 in Fairmont, Minnesota; the son of Ronald and Evelyn Runge. He attended the River Hills School in Cedar Falls. In the early 1980's he moved into the Solar Group Home in Waterloo, Iowa. For the past five years Gary has enjoyed living at the Harmony House Care Center in Waterloo. The people there became a second family to him over the years.

Gary was an avid swimmer and bowler. He competed in the event of swimming at the Special Olympic Games. Gary enjoyed music, movies and watching professional wrestling. Gary loved his time at the Harmony House especially the group outings they organized for their residents and working in the greenhouse. His true joy in life was his nieces and nephews. Gary will be missed and long remembered by his friends and family.

Gary is survived by his mother Evelyn; brothers Steven (Darla) Runge of Sherburn, MN and Randy (Lori) Runge of Grundy Center, IA; sisters Mary Ann (James) McIntire of Nevada, Iowa and Susan (Sam) Banks of Nevada, Iowa; 15 nieces and nephews and 17 great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father Ronald; brother Dennis Runge and niece Kristi Banks.