Garland Carver Obituary

Garland K. Carver, age 93, died on Thursday, May 8, 2025.

A celebration of Garland's life will be held on Sunday, May 18 at The Bridge in Johnston (10025 NW 62nd Ave, Johnston, IA). There will be a visitation from 2:00 to 3:00pm and a memorial service at 3:00pm followed by a luncheon. The memorial service will be live streamed at https://vimeo.com/event/5133129. Burial with military honors will be held on Monday, May 19, 10:00am at the McDivitt Grove Cemetery in Urbandale.

Garland was born March 28, 1932, in Spencer, lowa, to Marion and Letha Carver. He attended and graduated from Spencer schools and the University of lowa. Following graduation from the University he immediately began a career with the lowa-Des Moines National Bank where he eventually became an Executive Vice President. To fulfill his ROTC commitment he first served two years in the Air Force at Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma where he met his future wife Mona Lee Moore of Edmond, Oklahoma. They were married in Edmond on February 2, 1957. After returning to Des Moines he continued to serve for four years in the lowa Air National Guard as a captain and Information Officer of the 132nd Air Defense Wing.

In their 68 years of marriage, Garland and Mona were blessed with four children; John, Tom, Alan, and Missy, 13 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.

In 1981 he began a new career consulting and serving in volunteer activities. He especially enjoyed the time that he spent on the boards of Grand View University, Morningside College, Mercy Hospital Medical Center, the General Council on Finance and Administration of the United Methodist Church and assignments within the lowa Conference of the United Methodist Church, Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Meredith Drive Reformed Church, Quakerdale, and the University of lowa's College of Nursing Dean's Advisory Committee. He was also a director of Life Care Retirement Communities, Inc. (now known as Lifespace Communities, Inc.), and several other corporate and non-profit boards.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Marion and Letha Carver; his daughter, Missy McKinley, brother Ken Carver and sister-in-law Fredrena Pappas.

He is survived by: his wife Mona; sister-in-law, Carol Carver; brother-in-law John (Nancy) Moore, and brother-in-law Tom (Laurel VanHam) Pappas.

His children: John, Pam, Tom, Linda, Alan, Lynnette Carver and Angus McKinley.

His grandchildren: Emily (Jennifer Locke) Carver; Adam (Tabitha) Carver, Dan (Rebecca) Carver, Jessica Carver, Laura (Mitch) Wagner, Beth (Donavon) Greiner, Katelyn (Jon) Luetchens, Jennifer (Chris) Nienhaus, Alex Carver, Meredith (Casey) Doyle, Caleb (Maria) McKinley, Courtney McKinley, and Marshall McKinley.

His great grandchildren: Bear and Atlas Carver; Roy and Ben Carver; Harrison and Theo Wagner; Elise, Kyra and Vincent Greiner; Caroline, Maggie and Josephine Luetchens; John, Annabelle, Jaxson and Avery Nienhaus; Griffin and Coby Doyle; and Nellie McKinley.

Garland was deeply loved and respected and leaves a legacy of servant leadership based on the foundations of faith, family and friends.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Bridge in Johnston or Grandview University.

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