Gary T. Albertson

Gary T. Albertson, 80, rural Lake Mills, passed away Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022 at the MercyOne North Iowa Hospice Unit, Mason City. A visitation for Gary will be held Thursday, Sept. 15 from 4-6 p.m. at Schott Funeral Homes-Mittelstadt Chapel, Lake Mills with a prayer service at 6 p.m. Pastor Joshua Skogen is officiant. The visitation and service are both open to the public. Cremation will follow, and inurnment will be in the Scarville Evangelical Synod Cemetery on Friday.
Gary Thomas Albertson was born Sept. 14, 1941 at his parents’ farm in rural Winnebago County to Harry Merle and Thelma Caroline (Brustad) Albertson. He attended school in Scarville, and was baptized and confirmed at the Scarville Synod Lutheran Church.
On Nov. 17, 1961, Gary and Elaine Berschman were united in marriage at the Methodist church, Buffalo Center. They made their home in Scarville, where Gary was employed by the Winnebago County secondary roads department, where he drove the maintainer for almost 30 years.
Gary loved the outdoors and passed his excitement and knowledge on to not only the next generations in his family, but also to neighbors and friends. It is estimated that Gary took fishing trips to Canada for the better part of 70 years, beginning with his father Merle. Gary was lucky to have at least one trip with four generations of the Albertson family: Merle, Gary, Larry and Trevor.
In addition to fishing, Gary was an avid hunter and trapper. He got 99 deer with a bow and arrow alone, not counting the ones he was able to hunt with a rifle. He enjoyed gardening and learned how to can food, often canning the game he was able to secure in the outdoors. The greatest thing about Gary’s hobbies is that they were all things he did with Elaine. Sometimes Elaine caught the big fish or made the cleanest kill, and Gary was never afraid to give her the credit. He also had a large collection of arrowheads on display in their home.
Gary was a retired firefighter with the Scarville Fire Department, serving some of his years as Chief, and he was the “bean man” at the Ikes steak frys.
Those who knew Gary will remember him for his love and devotion to Elaine and their family, his keen sense of humor (often being the instigator of practical jokes), and his infectious laugh. And if you were lucky enough to see it, Gary would show you his sixth toe . . . in itself is an unforgettable detail.
Survivors include his wife, Elaine, rural Lake Mills; two sons: Larry Albertson, Lake Mills; and Lee Albertson, Scarville; two grandchildren: Jocelyn (Aaron) Boss, Jackson, Wyo.; and Tristan Albertson, Scarville; and three great-grandchildren: Mariah Albertson, Blue Earth, Minn.; and Hunter Boss and Grayson Boss, both of Jackson, Wyo.; aunt, Tharon Steinmetz, and uncle George Albertson, Jr., both of Northwood; a sister-in-law, Evelyn Escherich, Scarville; a very special nephew, Brian Escherich, Ankeny; and numerous extended relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a grandson. Trevor Albertson; a sister and her husband. Carmen and Arlen Tweed; and sister- and brother-in-law, Alice and Vince Barkhurst.