Gary L. Wireman

Pretty outgoing, quick-witted with fast comebacks, and definitely the comedian/goofball of the family are just a few ways to describe Gary Wireman.  A few events which occurred in history in 1961 include Alan Shepard making the first U.S. space flight, the Peace Corps was established by President John F. Kennedy, the construction of the Berlin Wall began, Pampers started selling their first disposable diapers, the first Six Flags Amusement Park was opened, and on August 4, 1961 in Fredville, KY, Sam and Susie (Whitaker) Wireman welcomed the birth of their fifth son Gary Lynn Wireman after his brothers Sam, Carter, Don, and Doug, and prior to his sister Brenda. Because of him being the youngest boy, Gary’s brothers felt like he was their dad’s “pet.” As in, their dad showed a little more favoritism towards him. Therefore, when Gary had appendicitis as a kid, his brothers thought he was just faking it for affection most of the time until it actually turned out to be very serious.

Gary attended Columbia City Joint High School and graduated with the Class of 1980 and then went on to earn his BS in Business Management. Most notably, Gary was a really good basketball player all throughout his school years. Gary also had a noticeable area on his shin that didn’t grow any hair because of an incident that happened during his teen years. His leg had gotten burned at a campfire party when one of his friends tried kicking a partially filled gas can away from the fire, but accidentally kicked it right towards Gary catching his leg on fire. Even with his leg being severely burned, he begged his brothers not to tell their mom and dad about it.

Gary was mostly a maintenance manager and safety director throughout his career. He spent most of his career working for National Plastics in Fort Wayne, Square D in Huntington, ITT Industries in Fort Wayne, and Sonoco Products Co. in Newport, Tennessee.  Gary liked to party, but he was also a problem solver when it came down to serious matters, was a great handyman that could fix almost anything.

During his time at Square D, he and Amy purchased a restaurant in Columbia City called North Side Grille for a few years in the late 2000s. He would get off work at Square D in Huntington and go straight to helping out at the restaurant most evenings.

As a father, Gary was about as good as one could ask for. He coached Derek’s baseball team every year and would always be outside with his two sons teaching them how to pitch and hit a baseball. He would also play two against one in basketball on their gravel driveway. Even after working all day, he would always still have time to teach and play with his two boys. Gary was also a great step-father. He immediately took in his three step-children as if they had always been his own. Gary met Amy at Square D, where they both had been working at the time.

Easily the greatest day of Gary’s life was on October 4, 2003, when he married Amy (Watson) Wallace and she said, “I do” at their wedding. As a young adult, he and the rest of his brothers and sister (and their spouses and children) would spend Christmas Eve at their parents’ house partying and playing pool all night. He and family and friends used to go camping for a weekend at Michigan International Speedway in the summer for the NASCAR race that’s held there every year. Most recently, he, Amy, some of his siblings, and some close friends would take vacations to places like Hilton Head and Panama City.

One of Gary’s favorite and also most loved hobbies was cooking. There wasn’t anything that he couldn’t cook and make taste great. He was especially fond of grilling and smoking any and all types of meats. On the weekends, you could find him singing karaoke. Some of his favorite songs to sing were Copperhead Road by Steve Earle, Train, Train by Blackfoot, and Interstate Love Song by Stone Temple Pilots –just to name a few. He also had a vast collection of Browning shirts, NASCAR collectibles, collected guns, and liked to deer hunt in the woods behind his old house in South Whitley.

Gary loved music, especially rock and roll. Some of his favorite bands included the Steve Miller Band, Boston, AC/DC, Joe Walsh, Collective Soul, and Bachman-Turner Overdrive. Back in the 90’s, he even listened to a bit of country music. His VHS collection included about every Clint Eastwood western. His favorite NASCAR driver was Mark Martin and was also a big fan of the Indianapolis Colts and Kentucky Wildcats basketball.

Gary will be loved and remembered for all of these examples and so many more not listed by those who knew him so well.

Gary Lynn Wireman, age 59, of Dandridge, TN, passed away at 2:28 pm on Saturday, May 8, 2021 at the home of his sister in Uniondale, IN.

Survivors by his sons, Drew Wireman of New Haven and Derek Wireman of Monroeville; step-children Meliah (Kevin) Cox, Luke Wallace, and Lance Wallace; step-grand-daughter Josie Cox; siblings Sam (Polly) Wireman, Jr. of Knapp Lake, Carter (Teresa) Wireman, Sr. of Silver Point, TN, Donald (Margarita) Wireman of Palm Harbor, FL, Douglas Wireman of Columbia City, and Brenda (Jim) Arter of Uniondale, IN.

He was preceded in death by his parents and wife, Amy Catherine Wireman.

Visitation will be 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Friday, May 14, 2021 at DeMoney-Grimes Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, May 15, 2021 at the funeral home, with Pastor John Cummings officiating.

Burial will follow in Greenhill Cemetery, Columbia City.

Memorial donations may be given in memory of Gary to help fight pancreatic cancer at www.pancan.org.

Donations may be mailed to DeMoney-Grimes Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Dr., Columbia City, IN, 46725.

Visit www.demoneygrimes.com  to send Gary's family online condolences or sign the online guest book.