Gary Arickx, 75, of Nora Springs

Gary Arickx, 75, of Nora Springs, Iowa died at home on Friday, October 2, 2026, surrounded by family and friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Gary Arickx will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, October 9, 2026, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Charles City, Iowa with Reverend Ray Atwood officiating. Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Osage, Iowa.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, October 8, 2026 at Hauser Weishaar Funeral Home in Charles City and will continue one hour before the service at the church on Friday.

Gary Leon Arickx was born in Osage, Iowa in 1951 to Joseph and Gayle Arickx and lived most of his life in Floyd, Iowa. As a young man, he joined the Navy and served for 4 years. He remained active in his veteran community and is grateful for the medical care he received through the VA and especially the hospice services that supported him in his last days.

He met the love of his life, Carol, when she worked as a waitress at the SOP. They were married for 49 years. You could always find Gary cheering on his kids at sporting events.

He completed trade school in Calmar, IA becoming a proud mason who left his fingerprints on the many bricks he laid in the community that he loved so much.

He celebrated 34 years of sobriety and found deep purpose within the recovery fellowship. He enriched many lives by sharing his hope with those seeking a new path. As an eternal believer in the virtue of a second chance, he always had a job ready at Gary’s Enterprises for anyone in need.

He loved playing cribbage with friends and family. He was a regular fixture at the annual cribbage tournament at Hammer Hardware and was known to bring a pot of homemade Navy Bean Soup to share.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Gayle and Joseph Arickx and his daughters, Chasity and Christina. He is survived by his wife, Carol Arickx; their children: Casie (Aaron), Josh (Erin), Jeremy (Ali), Tyler (Liz); grandchildren: Morgan, Aidan, Riley, Annabelle, Piper, Finn, Hudson, Kennedy, Reagan; great-grandchild, Ace; and sisters: Sharon (Bill), Kristie (Terry).

If you knew Gary, you had a story. And while he may be gone, those stories will keep us laughing, shaking our heads, and missing him for a long, long time.

In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to the VA Healthcare System through the VA CDCE Portal (https://www.cdceportal.va.gov/donate_online/) selecting the VA Central Iowa Health Care System (636A6) in Memory of Gary Arickx.

Hauser Weishaar Funeral Home, (641) 228-2323, 1205 South Main Street, Charles City, Iowa 50616 is in charge of local arrangements.  Online condolences may be left on the Tribute Wall for the family at www.hauserfh.com.