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Gary Anthony Tonhouse

July 2, 1970 - January 4, 2023

Gary A. Tonhouse passed away on January 4, 2023, in Jacksonville, Florida. The family held a private service on January 14, 2023.

A Celebration of Life will be held from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 14, 2023, at Wild Crush (13360 Clayton Rd #105, Town and Country, MO 63131). The gathering will be a casual open house, and the family welcomes all who knew Gary to join them in taking a moment to connect and share stories celebrating his life.

In addition to the event, a scholarship has been created through Iowa State University, www.foundation.iastate.edu/Tonhouse. We ask that any expression of sympathy be directed towards his scholarship, Stray Rescue of St. Louis or a charitable cause in his memory.

Gary was born in 1970, to Gary and Marian Tonhouse. He grew up in Bondurant, before moving to Ankeny, Iowa.  During his younger years, in Bondurant, he played baseball, wrestling, football and soccer. He also spent a deal of time outdoors and could be found fishing, hunting or throwing grasshoppers at his sister. Once moving to Ankeny, he began working in restaurants, where he learned the art of cooking at Mr. K’s and Bear’s. When he wasn’t working, he could be found riding his motorcycle or cleaning his vintage car.

After graduating from Ankeny High School, Gary worked at UPS, then spent a year at the University of Iowa before transferring to Iowa State University. He completed his undergraduate work at Iowa State University and later went on to receive a Master’s degree at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.  For the last twenty-two years, Gary was employed by the Boeing Corporation, and most of this time was spent in St. Louis, Missouri.

Gary was one for enjoying life. He volunteered at jazz festivals, was connected to the arts community and supported local causes in St. Louis. G also enjoyed the company of good friends, all of whom meant the world to him. He knew no strangers and his smile told the story of his kindness.

Gary will be dearly missed by his mother, Marian; his sister, Jackie; as well as a number of relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his father, Gary D. Tonhouse.