Gary Antisdel, 85, of Bridgewater

Celebration of Life Services: Will be held on Thursday, October 20, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. at the Trinity Christian Church in Bridgewater.  A luncheon will immediately follow the service.  Burial will be at a later date in the Exira Cemetery, Exira, Iowa.   Pastor Sara Eddy will officiate the service.  The Lamb Funeral Home in Fontanelle is in charge of the professional arrangements.  Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com.

Open Visitation:   Will be held on Wednesday. October 19, 2022, at the Lamb Funeral Home in Fontanelle from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Family Visitation:  The family will greet friends on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Lamb Funeral Home in Fontanelle.

Memorials:  May be directed to the B-F Prekindergarten in Bridgewater or to the Hospice of the Midwest.

Gary Dean Antisdel was born June 29^th, 1937 in rural Orient, to Dean and Lola (McKee) Antisdel.  Gary attended country school until high school when he attended Bridgewater High.  He graduated in 1955.  After graduation he held various jobs.  He eventually moved to Atlantic, where he met Nola Rae Bengard.  Gary and Nola were married on March 20^th, 1957 and were blessed with five children.  Bill, Mike, Barry, Kim, and Cyndi.

Gary farmed for several years.  He later retired from his custodial duties at Bridgewater Elementary after 22 years.  Gary had several special memories of the students. Gary loved trips to the Ozarks with his Grandchildren, to Colorado, and fishing in Canada.  Along with visiting lifelong friends in Omaha. On family trips Gary had a knack of suggesting a shortcut in the route.  While these suggested routes sometimes (most times) delayed arrival, they usually were scenic.  Gary was a Kansas City Chiefs fan as well as a big fan of westerns and western books. 

Gary didn’t know a stranger.  He could strike up a conversation with any and all.  He loved cattle and regularly watched the televised auctions. His memory of Adair County was incredible. He was like a present and past plat book.

Gary is survived by his wife, Nola Antisdel; two sons, Mike Antisdel and wife Lori of Des Moines and Barry Antisdel and wife Lisa of Anita; daughter, Cyndi Ferguson and husband Kevin of Atlantic; daughter-in-law, Nancy Antisdel of Greenfield; son-in-law, Philip Knapp of Walnut; 17 grandchildren; 36 great grandchildren; 3 great great grandchildren and one on the way; two sisters, Sherry Kinney of Greenfield and Connie Swanson of Creston; brother Richard Antisdel and wife Daisy of Bridgewater; other relatives and friends.

Gary is preceded in death by his parents Dean and Lola Antisdel; In-laws Jon and Ora Bengard; children, Bill Antisdel and Kim Knapp; brothers-in-law, Karl Swanson, Marlin Kinney, Jack Bengard, and Harvey Nelson; sister-in-law Lorraine Nelson. 

The family would like to thank you for all your blessings, prayers and kind words and mostly sharing your memories. As Gary would say “drive safe- come see me again” and “watch for deer.”