Stewart Corey Gaumer

"God gives us each a gift of life to cherish from our birth. He gives us friends and those we love to share our days on Earth.

He watches us with loving care and takes us by the hand. He blesses us with countless joys and guides the lives we've planned.

Then, when our work on Earth is done, He calls to His side, to live with Him in happiness where peace and love abide."

Family visitation was held 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Thursday, June 16, 2005 at Behner Funeral Home.

Funeral Services were held 10:30 AM, Friday, June 17, 2005 at Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield.

Honorary Pallbearers: Tom Louden, Bob Gamrath, Bob Austin, Chet Danielson, Paul Wacknov, Jack Taylor, Wayne Klepinger, John Gimbel, Bob Parkin & Lee Gobble.

Active Casketbearers: Jim Hiatt, Jim Kennedy, Dick Smith, Jim Evans, Fred Hunt, Frank Fritz, Al Ehret & Jim Rubis

Memorials may be sent to:

First Presbyterian Church, 200 S. Main Street, Fairfield, IA 52556

the Fairfield Public Library, 104 W. Adams, Fairfield, IA 52556

or the Fairfield Golf and Country Club, 905 E. Harrison, Fairfield, IA 52556.

Stewart Corey Gaumer was born on January 6, 1918 in Fairfield, Iowa, the son of Dr. James Stewart and Minnie (Corey) Gaumer. He graduated from Fairfield High School with the Class of 1934 and attended Parsons College from 1934-1936. Stewart transferred to the University of Iowa and graduated in 1938. He then attended the Wharton School of Business and Finance from 1938 to 1941, where he received his MBA.

Stewart joined the Iowa National Guard in 1940. After attending Wharton, he attended Officer Candidate School in 1942, at which time he was assigned to the Army Services Depot in Atlanta, GA. While stationed in Atlanta, Stewart married Virginia "Ginnie" Patterson Whaler. They were the parents of two children, Stew, Jr. and Larue. Ginnie died July 22, 2001. In January 1945, he was transferred to the Inventory Branch of the Army Medical Purchasing Office in New York City.

After discharge from the US Army in 1945, Stewart accepted a position as Asst. Secretary/Treasurer at Dexter Company in Fairfield, IA in January of 1946. Stew was a very active member of the Fairfield Independent School district Board from 1948-1958. He relocated his family to Philadelphia in 1958 to join Philco Corporation after their acquisition of Dexter.

The Gaumers returned to Fairfield in 1969 where Stew became VP/Secy/Treas of Dexter until his retirement in 1983. Following his retirement, Stew was named Chairman of the Board of Directors from 1989-1998. He received the Chamber of Commerce "Man of the Year" award in 1974 for "leadership and service to the community". Stew was president of the Fairfield Golf and Country Club in 1952, 1957 and 1971. He was president of the Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce in 1986.

Stew was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Fairfield where he was an elder for three years. His memberships incluced B.P.O.E #1192, Fairfield Golf and Country Club, American Legion Post #0047, KAABA Shriners of Davenport and the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, where he was a 32nd Degree Mason.

He is survived by his son Stew, Jr. and wife Carolyn of White Plains, NY and daughter Larue and husband Dennis Wachnov of Overland Park, KS. Stew was grandfather to Dave Gaumer of Fairfield, Stacey, Jason and Corey Wacknov of Overland Park and great-grandfather to Josh and Ryan Gaumer of Fairfield.

Preceding Stew in death were his parents, his wife Ginnie, and two grandsons, Matthew James Gaumer and Richard Leon LaRue.