Gary Harders Jr.
Gary Herman Harders Jr., 58, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, formerly of Dakota City, passed away on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, under hospice care at Bethany Life in Story City.
We will celebrate Gary with visitation at 10:00 am and funeral service at 11:00 am on Saturday February 7, 2026, at Lighthouse Ministries in Fort Dodge with Pastor John Elkin officiating.
Gary Herman Harders Jr., the son of Gary Sr and Katheryn (Kennedy) Harders, was born June 10, 1967, in Cherokee, Iowa. He was a member of the 1985 graduating class from Humboldt Senior High School. Gary enlisted into the United States Air Force in 1985 and served as a Precision Measuring Equipment Laboratory Specialist and was discharged in June of 1988.
Gary worked as a machinist at Iowa Hydraulics in Humboldt for many years and then in the maintenance department at Elanco in Fort Dodge for many years.
Gary was a member of Lighthouse Ministries and the Iron Butt Association (a long-distance motorcycle riding club). He also enjoyed being part of a pool league, darts and bowling.
He is survived by his two sisters, Juanita (Jerry) Johnson and Barb (Kevin) Benton both of Fort Dodge; nieces and nephews: Nicholas, Austin, Natasha, Adam, Jacob and Kayla and many great nieces and nephews. Gary is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Thomas Harders and his maternal and paternal grandparents.