Gary W. Reber, 75

The family of Gary W. Reber sadly announces his passing on July 10, 2020, after a courageous 17-year battle with metastatic renal cell cancer. Gary was larger than life and had an indomitable spirit that brought joy to all who met him.

He was born on Jan. 17, 1945, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, to Rejane and Frank Reber. When he was a young boy his parents brought him to Coeur d’Alene, where he grew up and spent the rest of his childhood. He graduated from Coeur d’Alene High School in 1963 and attended the University of Idaho, where he was a devoted member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. He majored in industrial engineering and graduated in 1967. He was also in ROTC and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army upon graduation.

In 1966, Gary married Mary Whitesel from Coeur d’Alene and they were married almost 54 years before he passed. Their first child, Garth, was born in 1967, in Moscow, Idaho. After graduation from college, the Army sent Gary to Germany for two years, where he was joined by Mary and Garth. After returning from the Army, Gary remained in the reserves for a few more years.

He went to work for Caterpillar Tractor Company in Peoria, Ill., where their second child, Rejane, was born. After two years, CAT sent him and the family to Denver, Colo., as a representative for the Western United States. Their third child, Julie, was born there.

After two more years, the family decided to stay in Denver and Gary went to work for the Caterpillar dealership in there, which eventually became Wagner Equipment Company. He spent all of his years until retirement with Wagner and held many management positions until becoming vice president of sales for his last 10 or so years.

Gary was always athletic, playing softball, basketball, racquetball and golf, and going skiing, hiking and backpacking. But he was best known for his laughter and sense of humor. People were drawn to him and have expressed how much they will miss his care for those around him and his optimistic outlook on life. Every day was a good day. He struggled through a lot with his cancer but still always had a smile on his face and never complained. We may never see his smile and the light in his eyes again, but they will always be in our hearts.

Mary and Gary’s children graduated from Colorado State University and have become amazing adults with wonderful spouses and gave their parents the gift of six beautiful grandchildren. Gary retired at 60 and when not spending time with the grandchildren, he and Mary traveled the world for the next seven years to points far and away. From a trek in Nepal and Bhutan, to a music festival on the sands of the Sahara north of Timbuktu, to Borneo and Cuba, Patagonia, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and many more, they experienced the diversity of the world.

Once Gary’s cancer spread to his brain in 2012, and he had to have whole brain radiation, he was unable to travel the way he had and even to play golf or participate in many activities. But he persevered for eight and a half more years.

Gary is survived by his wife, Mary of Coeur d’Alene; son, Dr. Garth Reber (Annie) of Lander, Wyo.; daughter, Rejane Kocemba (Dr. Russ Kocemba) of Boise; daughter, Julie Reber (Jason Gillam) of Bend, Ore.; and grandchildren: Bowen and Tagish Reber, Frannie and Zosha Kocemba, and Jupiter and Jettson Gillam.

Because of the coronavirus we are not having a memorial at this time but will plan to have a celebration of Gary’s life well lived when it is safe for all. If you so desire to send a memorial for Gary, we have established a scholarship in his name to the University of Idaho. You can send to: Gary Reber Memorial Scholarship, c/o University of Idaho Foundation, 875 Perimeter Drive – MS 3143, Moscow, ID 83844-3143

Yates Funeral Home entrusted with final arrangements. Please visit Gary’s online memorial and sign his guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.