Cecil Gene Gnat, 87 of Salix, passed away Friday, May 15, 2015 at a care facility in Whiting, IA.

Service will be held 11:00am Tuesday, May 19, 2015 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Salix, IA, with Father Patrick O'Kane officiating. Visitation will be held 6-8pm Monday, May 18, 2015 at the church. Burial will be Wednesday, May 20, 2015 at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in South Dakota. Arrangements are under the direction of Waterbury Funeral Service of Sergeant Bluff.

Cecil Gene Gant was born to Ed and Bertha (Giles) Gnat, September 22, 1927 on their farm near Erwin, South Dakota. He was the eldest son of 10 children. Cecil graduated from Bryant High School in 1946 and went to Nettleton College where he studied book keeping. He entered the Navy in 1948 serving in the Korean conflict. After the Navy he returned to SD. where he married Nainna (Everson) Gnat in 1952. He and Nainna had 11 children while they farmed outside of Bryant SD until 1968 when they moved to Anderson, IN. Cecil worked for General Motors until he was transferred to Sioux City where he retired from GM.

Cecil and Nainna enjoyed retirement by traveling in their RV meeting countless friends from around the country. He was blessed with a loving family and will be missed by his wife of 62 years.

Cecil waits to be reunited in heaven with his wife Nainna, five sons; Donald (Marla Gillard) Gnat, John (Leah) Gnat, Douglas Gnat, David (Dannine) Gnat, Bill (Nancy Evans) Gnat, five daughters; Mary (Keith) Erwin, Judy Bradley, Margaret (Ron) Wood, Marcella (Tom) Slater, Kathy (Tom) Keegan, three brothers; Al Gnat, Wendell (JoAnn) Gnat, Ronald (Anita) Gnat, three sisters; Geri Borick, Betty Robenalt, Dorothy (Adrain) Pratt, and 24 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and 2 great- great grandchildren.

Cecil is preceded in death by both his parents Ed and Bertha his eldest daughter Lawana Gnat, and three siblings Evelyn Storhaug, Marion Schmidt, Mildred Kaiser.