Rick Gillaspy Obituary

Ricky (Rick) Lee Gillaspy, 57, of Altoona passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 25th, 2023, after a courageous battle to pancreatic cancer.

Rick was born on June 7th, 1966, to William and Donna (Millard) Gillaspy of Altoona, Iowa. He graduated from Southeast Polk High School with the class of 1984. Out of high school he went to work for Windsor Wood Windows, he soon oversaw special design windows. After leaving there he started building trailers for S&S trailers. He was helping design trailers for several fair vendors and some big-time smoking competitors like Moe Cason. He was then hired on to run the shop at On Site Fleet Service that took care of a large fleet of trucks and trailers. His last calling was in the medical field delivering specialized equipment for patients in need, where he became a favorite with many nurses and doctors. His all time favorite “job” though was being a grandpa to Walker and Paisley.

Rick was an avid bowler. He started bowling when he was younger and in recent years enjoyed bowling league and in tournaments with the whole family. In the summer you could find Rick watching the Chicago Cubs from home, but his favorite seat was in the bleachers in Chicago at Wrigley Field. He also enjoyed spending as much time out on the lake on the pontoon or the jet skis with the family on any given weekend.

Ricky Lee Gillaspy is preceded in death by grandparents Leroy and Evelyn Millard, grandparents Argyle and Berniece Gillaspy and brother William (Billy) Gillaspy Jr. He is survived by his parents, William Sr and Donna Gillaspy of Altoona, Iowa; siblings, Mark (Angela) Gillaspy of Bondurant, Iowa and Curtis (Heather) Gillaspy of Ankeny, Iowa; Children Brandon (Emilea) Gillaspy and Madeline (Cory Hein) Gillaspy; Grandchildren Walker Hein and Paisley Gillaspy; and many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and friends.

Memorial services will be held at Iles (Grandview) Funeral Home in Des Moines. Visitation will be held on Wednesday August 2nd from 5pm to 7pm. Funeral will be held on Thursday August 3rd beginning at 10am with a livestream available. He will be laid to rest at the Altoona cemetery.

Memorials please directed to https://lustgarten.org/

ARRANGEMENTS BY ILES GRANDVIEW PARK CHAPEL

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