Gary D. Ratcliff, 63 of Sergeant Bluff, died Friday, September 9, 2016 at a Sioux City hospital.

Services will be held 11 am Wednesday, September 14 at Waterbury Funeral Service of Sioux City. Burial will be 2 pm Thursday in Friends Cemetery, Lynnville, Iowa. Visitation will be held 4-8 pm Tuesday at Waterbury Funeral Service in Sioux City, with the family present 5-7 pm.

Gary D. Ratcliff was born on September 11, 1952, to Ross and Betty Ratcliff of rural route Lynnville, Iowa. Gary lived on the farm and went to school in Lynnville, Searsboro, and Lynnville-Sully High School. He learned early on that he was a fan of cars and was so excited to drive his first car – a ’64 Chevy Impala Super Sport – to high school. He graduated in 1970 and went to college at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Just as his second year of college was beginning, he met his future bride, Carol Ann Scott. They both had interests in helping people – Gary in social work and Carol in art education. They built memories together at school and depended on each other for support. This fun, crazy boy from the country and this city-girl from Cedar Rapids grew very close. Inseparable even. In 1974, Gary graduated and eventually settled down a bit more when he started his first job as a social worker in Marshalltown, Iowa.

Gary and Carol married January 11, 1975, on a very blizzard-like day. Gary kept working for the state of Iowa and transferred to Fort Dodge as a case worker for the Work Incentive program. 12 years later, the couple moved to Sergeant Bluff as Gary began work as a claims adjuster for IMT insurance, beginning a new career as a claims adjuster. He used his investigation skills and people-pleasing skills. Great West Casualty soon needed a claims adjuster and Gary convinced them he could work in the liability department. He stayed there for 20 years, and met many great friends. It was almost impossible to not run into someone he knew from GWC.

The couple raised a daughter, Carrie Lynn (b. 1982), who was the light of their lives. Watching her through all her school activities and sports was such a joy for him. When she was five years old, Gary could out run her, but after that, not so much. He was so proud at every game, and every event, and every school accomplishment. She is married and lives in Kansas City with her husband, Rob Lessard, and their nine-month-old son, Robert Ross. That little smiley and amazing grandson was such a joy for Gary and Carol, especially during these last few months, when Gary was battling his illness. Robby Ross’ smile helped melt some of the pain away.

Gary has been a “Gear-Head” for as long as we have all known him. He loved cars and had a fun hobby of collecting and working on them. At different times during his life, he owned (and drove!!) a ’36 Dodge pickup “Dodge-o-let”, a ’39 Chevy Sedan Delivery, a ’40 Chevy Sedan, a ’50 Pontiac, a ’69 Chevy Camaro (an orange one like Carol had!), a ’64 Chevy Impala (his first car – saved all this time!), and a ’70 Chevy Pickup (1 driver and 1 in parts!). He was a member of the Iowa Street Rod Association, GoodGuys, Fort Dodge Idlers, and The Strollers Car Club of Sioux City.

Like we said, Gary loved his cars. A lot. When he was diagnosed with cancer, his love for cars seemed to be the best medicine. Family even believed he dreamed “Cars”. Even Robert Ross has inherited the "tinkering" gene, fiddling with, taking apart and figuring out things! But despite this passion for automobiles, they always took a backseat to his family and caring for others.

It’s an understatement to say that his family will miss him greatly, including Wife Carol, Daughter Carrie Lessard, Son-in-law Rob Lessard and Grandson Robert Ross of Kansas City; Mother-in-law Catherine Scott of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Sisters-in-law Susan Fly and her husband Steve of Bettendorf, Iowa, and Lynn Dermody and her husband John of Cypress, Texas. But they all find comfort in knowing that he’s in a better place, watching over them, and surely tinkering around on an old 19-something heap of junk that just needs a little love from Papa Gary.