Gary R. Lane

Gary Ralph Lane was healthy, active and just 67 years young. Born in 1944, he often referred to himself as a ""farm-boy from Iowa"", indicative of his humility. He'll always be so much more to so many. We knew him as Hon, Ten Bears, Dad & Poppees; and while he retired as an extremely successful businessman for Time Warner in 2007, he'll always always carry the legacy of a teacher, and one of the best coaches many of his players ever had. He called his final time-out the morning of April 18, 2011 after a terribly short but perfectly executed fight against his toughest opponent, kidney cancer. He graduated from Missouri Valley High in 1962 and was named the school's Outstanding Athlete that same year. Recruited to play baseball by his greatest coach and future father-in-law, Jay Beekmann, Gary attended Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Iowa. He was a man of many accomplishments, but perhaps his most significant ones occurred there. He met his wife Trudy in 1964, won the Jerry Ibach Award in '66 and graduated the same year. He was later inducted into the Buena Vista College Hall of Fame as a 9-time letter winner in baseball, football and basketball. Gary is preceded in death by his mother Ruth and brother Jon. He is survived by his father Ralph, sisters Diana, Nancy and Carol, seven nieces and nephews; and his immediate family of 10 - wife Trudy, sons Matt, Mike and Mitch, daughters-in-law Lara and Kimberly, and his most prized possessions, granddaughters Allison and Courtney, and grandsons Max and Mason. A man of great character, deep conviction, enormous strength and courage, Gary was the toughest of competitors with a gentle and generous heart. He was very proud of his family, and we are so very proud of him. He will be missed, but never forgotten. Funeral services will be held Friday, April 22nd at 3:00 P.M. at Montview Presbyterian Church, 1980 Dahlia Street, Denver, Colorado 80220. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate blood in his name, or donate to the Gary Lane Memorial Sporting Clays Growth Foundation. Donations can be made directly to the foundation and mailed to 742 Evening Star Lane, Castle Rock, CO 80108. He was 10 for 10, his final round. Please share your memories of Gary and condolences with his family by signing the guestbook.