Gary Orval Theiss

Born on April 29, 1951, in St. Louis, Missouri, Gary lived a life filled with family, dedication, and a passion for the things he loved.

Above all, Gary cherished his family. His greatest joy came from spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Whether enjoying family gatherings, visiting amusement parks, watching movies together, or simply sharing everyday moments, the time spent with those he loved meant the most to him.

Gary proudly served his country in both the United States Navy and the United States Air Force.

Outside of family, Gary had two great passions in life: cars and karate. He had a lifelong love of cars, particularly Ford Mustangs, with his most recent pride and joy being his beloved Shelby GT500. Whether admiring a beautiful Mustang, talking about cars, or enjoying the thrill of being behind the wheel, his enthusiasm never faded. Equally important was his dedication to martial arts, where years of commitment and discipline led him to achieve the rank of sixth-degree black belt in Kempo karate.

Gary is survived by his loving wife, Sherri; his three sons, Gary and his wife Judy, Justin and his wife Shannon, and Ryan and his wife Rachel; his nine grandchildren, Jaden, Alexander, Parker, Andrew, Victoria, Adam, Rachael, Kathryn, and Colette; and his two great-grandchildren, Bryce and Jayson. He is also survived by his sister, Janet, and his beloved English Golden Retriever, Shelby.

Gary’s final resting place will be at Arlington National Cemetery.

Gary will be deeply missed by his family and all who knew and loved him. His memory will live on through the family he cherished, the stories they share, and the many moments they were fortunate enough to spend together.