Garwood Mayer

Williamsburg-Garwood Ray Mayer was born October 8, 1941, in Carrington, North Dakota. He was the son of Carl and Doris (Knodel) Mayer. Gar graduated from Redwood Falls High School in 1959, received his BA from Westmar College in 1963,and later, his masters of education from Northeast Missouri State in Kirksville, MO. Gar was united in marriage to Patricia Polich on June 5, 1964, in Saylorville, Iowa. Gar was a teacher, drivers ed instructor, and coach. He taught a year at Echo, MN and a year at Sheffield, IA before moving to Williamsburg in 1966. Gar was the head of the History Department during that time. He retired in 2000 after 34 years of teaching. Gar enjoyed traveling with friends, doing short-term mission work in Romania, and speaking about his mission trips to 7th graders at Bible Camp. He was a member of the Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church, where he had served as a deacon, a treasurer, a Sunday School teacher, and a board member. He was awarded the Iowa Warren Schull Award for Advisor of the Year, Presidential Appointment for the National Draft Board, and was a State Safety Association board member. Gar died Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Compass Memorial Hospital in Marengo at the age of 83 years. 

He is survived by his children, Tami (Anthony) Minnehan of Panora, Curtis (Jamie) Mayer of Washington and Craig (Melissa) Mayer of Racine, WI; 10 grandchildren, Brian (Marlene) Minnehan, Daniel (Rachel) Minnehan, Marissa (Jared) Ramsay, Charles (Katelyn) Minnehan, Katie Minnehan, Reece Mayer, Teague Mayer, Riley (Austin) Bennett, Sydnie (Joseph) Rampulla, and Carlee Mayer; 9 great grandchildren and one on the way; a sister, Candace Reinert of Phoenix, AZ and a sister–in-law, Julyane Mayer of Wilmer, MN. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Pat and a brother Larry Mayer.

Funeral Services will be 10:00 am on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at the Powell Funeral Home in Williamsburg. Burial will be in the Community Cemetery rural Deep River. Visitation will be Friday from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at the Powell Funeral Home in Williamsburg. In lieu flowers a memorial fund has been established for the East Iowa Bible Camp. Messages and tributes may be directed to www.powellfuneralhomes.com.