Gary A. Finholt

Wednesday, April 1, 2015 1:18 pm

Gary A. Finholt, 78, of Decorah, died Monday, March 30, 2015, at Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah. Funeral services were at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 4, at Decorah Lutheran Church, with Rev. David Sorensen and Rev. Bryan Robertson officiating. Burial was in Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah. Visitation was 4-7 p.m. Friday, April 3, at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah and Saturday beginning at 10 a.m., one hour before the service, at Decorah Lutheran Church. Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at fjelstul.com. Organist was Kathy Murray. Soloist was Elea Uhl (“On Eagle’s Wings” and “How Great Thou Art”). Congregational hymns were “Just A Closer Walk With Thee” and “Be Not Afraid.” Casket bearers were Scott Finholt, Chris Hallett, Lee Finholt, Jay Downs, Joshua Downs, Kyle Corkery, Neil Corkery. 

Gary Alan Finholt was born Jan. 6, 1937, in Decorah, the son of Vernon V. and Helen M. (Seim) Finholt. He graduated from Decorah High School with the class of 1955. Gary married his classmate, Lois Hunter, and they resided in Decorah until 1968. He was a radio and TV repairman in Decorah and also a school bus driver for Decorah schools. He then attended Hawkeye Institute of Technology in Waterloo for one year in police training. He then worked in La Porte City as a police officer, then for Buchanan County in Independence as a deputy sheriff and then for the Independence police department. He retired and they moved to Decorah, back to Independence, and then to Rochester, Minn. Lois died April 6, 2001, in Rochester, Minn. Gary married Kathleen L. (Mosby) Knapp Oct. 2, 2004, at Decorah Lutheran Church.  Gary and Kathy moved to Decorah in 2005. Gary liked to tinker with radios, enjoyed classic cars and had a great sense of humor. 

Gary is survived by his wife, Kathy; six children: James (Christi) Finholt of Salem, Ore., Craig (Kathy) Finholt of Independence, Mary Downs of St. Francis, Ky., Steve (Brenda) Finholt of Decorah, Wanda (Gerald) Corkery of Marion and Brian Finholt of Everett, Wash.; 15 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and one brother, Mark (Paula) Finholt of Lakeville, Minn. 

He was preceded in death by his father, Vernon and mother Helen; and his first wife, Lois.