Obituary of Gary Lee Wilkinson

Gary L. Wilkinson, 77 of Oxford died Wednesday, January 8, 2020 at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Iowa City. Visitation will be on Wednesday, January 15th. from 3 to 7 pm at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. Burial with Military Honors will take place at 1:00 pm Thursday, January 16, 2020 at the Rock Island National Cemetery, Rock Island, Illinois. For a complete obituary, to share a thought, memory or condolence with his family please visit the funeral home website @ www.gayandciha.com. Gary’s family includes his wife, Loni Duncan; his children, Bryan Wilkinson (Katja), Eric Wilkinson (Michelle), Amy Wilkinson (Victor Pattella) and Laura Wilkinson; step-children, Ashley Dalziel-Sullivan (John Sullivan) and Clayton Duncan; 8 grandchildren, 3 step-grandchildren and Gary’s sister, Jeanne Foss (Duane). Words that Gary wanted shared at this time…. I have had several roles in my life. They include son, brother, nephew, uncle, cousin, husband, father, grandfather, coach (soccer, baseball, basketball), student athlete (8 high school varsity letters), student, graduate school class president, mentor, bureaucrat (ex-Fed), hospital director, retiree, politician (city council and mayor), farmer (wheat), military veteran (Navy) and friend. I have had a great time up to now and plan to continue doing just that. When I grew up, I had to learn to fight, run fast or talk. I picked talking and haven't stopped since. To leave you with his favorite quote by Walt Disney; “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible”.