Gary Douglas Kranz, age 80 of Cole Camp, passed away Wednesday November 13, 2024, at his home after a battle with cancer. He was born April 20, 1944, in Richmond, Indiana, a son of Walter and Helen (Hackman) Kranz.
Gary was baptized into the Lutheran Church as an infant, and was later confirmed at Brauersville Lutheran Church near Cole Camp. While in high school, he was in track, student council, class secretary, bluebird staff, and was a member of FFA, where he received several awards, and served as president and treasurer. He also received the Foundation Award Star Chapter Farmer and graduated from Cole Camp R1 School in 1962.
On September 15, 1962, at Mt. Hulda Lutheran Church, he was united in marriage to Donna Joyce Bush. This union was blessed with the gift of four children: David, Mark, Timothy, & Rebecca. Their marriage lasted more than 56 years, until the passing of Joyce in 2019.
Gary was an active member of Brauersville Lutheran Church, where he spent many years as a council member and an usher. He worked at Pittsburg Corning, and then went to work for Duke Mfg. in Sedalia, where he worked for over 20 years and retired in 2002.
He enjoyed raising a few head of cattle and pigs, and taking care of his chickens. He always liked having a couple of gardens so he could share his fresh vegetables and farm fresh eggs with friends and family. He never missed a chance to hop on his tractor and find something, somewhere to grade or dig. Gary was an avid hunter, and liked helping the grandkids during deer season. Gary and Joyce spent a lot of their time going fishing, spending time with their kids, grandkids, and great grandkids, camping and going to garage sales. They loved to travel, and took regular trips across the country almost every year.
In 2022, Gary met a wonderful woman, Nancy Pifer. They were united as one in the eyes of God on January 7, 2023. Gary and Nancy enjoyed taking a trip to see her mother in Michigan, although Gary had other thoughts after Nancy used GPS to get them there, which took them on several "short-cuts" which were not so short. They also were able to take a short trip to Hannibal and another to Oklahoma, they enjoyed going to the market in Versailles on the weekends, and going to the golf course where Nancy would play and Gary would drive the cart.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy; a daughter, Rebecca Doll and her husband Dean of Cole Camp; three sons, David Kranz and his wife Rebecca of Moncks Corner, South Carolina, Mark Kranz and his wife Carlene of Sedalia, and Timothy Kranz and his wife Ellen of Lincoln; one sister, Jennifer Price of Cole Camp; eleven grandchildren; Daniel, Michelle, Derick, Christopher, Shawn, Jeffrey, Aaron, Steven, Tyler, Joshua, and Mikayla; twenty great-grandchildren; Mason, Kade, Beckett, Logan, Harleigh, Shelby, Ashton, Hayley, Carter, Brooklyn, Peyton, Taylor, Aspen, Clayton, Brinley, Leahna, Remington, Kaihle, Abel & Waylon, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Helen Kranz, a sister, Sandra Long, a brother, Charles (in infancy) a brother-n-law, Jim Price, and a Nephew, Robert Long.
The family will receive friends beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, November 22, 2024, at Brauersville Immanuel Lutheran Church near Cole Camp with funeral services to be held at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Eugene Moll officiating. Burial will be at Brauersville Lutheran Cemetery near Cole Camp. Pallbearers will be Derick Kranz, Christopher Kranz, Jeffrey Kranz, Aaron Kranz, Steven Kranz, Joshua Doll, Dean Doll, and Damarion Jones. Honorary pallbearers will be Daniel Kranz, Michelle Oliver, Tyler Doll, Mikayla Doll, Shawn Kranz, and Logan Molczyk.
The family suggests memorial contributions be given to St. Jude's Children's Hospital or Brauersville Lutheran Church Ladies Aide in care of the Fox Funeral Home, PO Box 37, Cole Camp, MO 65325. Online condolences may be left at www.foxfuneralhomecolecampm o.com.
