Gary Lloyd Crippen was born on October 13, 1952 to Lloyd and Catherine (Willcox) Crippen in Eldora, Iowa.

Gary attended schools in Eldora, Desoto, and Winterset, Iowa. He enlisted in the U.S. Army, Serving from 1971 to 1974 and then again from 1980 to 1998. He was a mechanic and tank turret repairman. After retiring from the Army, he was a Mechanical Foreman for Union Pacific Railroad for seven years. In 2005 after the 2001 terrorist attacks, he was called back to his military roots and returned to work for the U.S. Army as a Department of Defense Civilian. He retired in 2017.

Gary was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 1432 and the American Legion, Post 240.

Gary loved riding his motorcycle and took motorcycle trips throughout the United States and Europe during and after his military career. Camping out and enjoying a roaringcampfire was one of Gary’s favorite pastimes. In his retirement, he enjoyed evenings sharing stories with his fellow veterans at the VFW.

Gary is survived by his wife Peggy and son Jackson of the home and Patrick of Fort Sill, Oklahoma; his father and step-mother, Lloyd and Beverly Crippen of Kingsland, Texas; sisters Phyllis Crippen (Melinda Sloan) of Indianola, Iowa and Lois Black, of Pineville, Missouri. Also surviving are sons Glenn Crippen, of Pecos, Texas, and Justin Mapes of Des Moines, Iowa; and daughters Cathryn(Joshua) Tones of Harker Heights, Texas and Destiny (Edgar) Moreno of Killeen, Texas, and Victoria Brammer of Creston, Iowa, and numerous grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Graveside service will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, December 22, 2021 at Prairie Mound Cemetery, Ellsworth County. Military honors will be provided by the VFW Post #1432.

Memorials may be made to VFW Post #1432 in care of Ryan Mortuary.