Gary Gene DePew

Gary Gene DePew, a lifelong resident of Junction City, passed away on December 22, 2021. Gary was born on March 5th, 1940 at Fort Riley to parents Ethel and Clarence DePew. He was the third of three siblings, the older two being Doil and Margaret. He graduated from Junction City High School in 1958. One of his favorite hobbies at that time was working on cars. He bought his first car with money he earned from delivering newspapers. It was a 1936 Chevy and he loved to race it on a quarter-mile bridge on Highway 77. A friend of his set him up on a date with Kathryn Barr, the girl whom he would later marry on June 11th, 1967. Two years later on October 18th, 1969, their daughter, Julie DePew was born, followed by their son, Gary B. DePew on May 24th, 1972. Gary was a dedicated husband, father and grandfather. Family always came first to him.

Throughout his life, Gary held many jobs, including being a paper boy, a stock boy at a grocery store, an auto parts store clerk, a car detailer and working at his father’s gas station for many years. He was a civil service worker at Fort Riley for most of his career, and worked as a gas station attendant, a telephone repair man and in Family Housing. He would go on to earn his Journeyman’s license and become an electrician. After retiring, he and three friends purchased the Cedar Point Car Wash in Junction City. As well as being co-owner, he spent his days there helping to keep the business running smoothly. He sold his share of the car wash to his partner in 2019.

Gary is survived by his wife, Kathryn; one daughter, Julie Rasmussen; one son, Gary B. DePew and his wife, Jill Martinson; one honorary son, Pete Arceo; three grandchildren, Taylor, Josslyn and Asher; one sister, Margaret Rutledge; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

The funeral will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, December 31st, 2021 at the Johnson Funeral Home on Washington Street in Junction City. Burial will follow the funeral at Highland Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested to be given to the First United Methodist Church at 804 N Jefferson Street in Junction City.