Gary Keith Zahrt Jr.

Gary Keith Zahrt, Jr., of Rembrandt, Iowa, passed away December 18, 2025, after a brief battle with cancer at Unity Point Health – St. Luke’s in Sioux City, Iowa, with Peggy DeWall by his side. He died just four days before his 58th birthday. Gary, the only son of Gary Zahrt, Sr. and Marjorie (Dirksen) Zahrt, was born December 22, 1967, in Jacksonville, North Carolina, at Camp LeJeune Marine Corps Base. As the son of a military father, Gary spent his early years moving from place to place. Before the age of three, he had lived in North Carolina, Minnesota, and Timaru, New Zealand. The family later lived in Spokane, Washington; San Antonio and Wichita Falls, Texas; Incirlik Air Force Base in Adana, Turkey; and Omaha, Nebraska, before settling in the family’s hometown of Rossie, Iowa, when his father retired in1982.

During his years in Wichita Falls, Gary developed his lifelong love of flying kites. He was also an exceptional Little League pitcher, known for striking out opposing players and helping his team remain undefeated. His baseball career was cut short after he broke his arm twice in one year, but his love of kites continued throughout his life.

Gary graduated from Clay Central High School in 1986 and spent most of his adult life in Iowa. He held several jobs while pursuing another lifelong passion: fishing. Most recently, he lived in Rembrandt and loved working for Terry Zimmerman at Lakeshore Café in Storm Lake, where he took great pride in his work—and his collection of T-shirts. Gary was a simple man who was always proud of his sisters. In addition to flying kites, he also enjoyed fishing, hunting, and building models.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Jodie Ann Violet Miller; nephew, Riley Puterbaugh; and former wife, Lisa Scott.

He is survived by his four sisters, Janelle (Butch) McHail, Cynthia (Ron) Wilson, Tracy Zahrt, and Elaine Zahrt; two half-sisters, Zoe Zahrt and Zandra (Blake) Hatch; eight nieces; and twelve nephews. Gary Keith will be laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery beside his maternal grandparents, Ole Albert and Evelyn May (Pekarek) Dirksen.

A visitation service will be held Monday September 21, 2026, at Warner Funeral Home, 10am-noon. All are welcome to attend.