Corby Charles Gundacker, 71, of Elkader, passed away on June 10, 2023, at MercyOne Medical Center in Elkader, Iowa. He was born February 21, 1952, in McGregor, Iowa, to Charles and Mary Geraldine (Ehrhardt) Gundacker.
He attended Central Community School through high school and graduated in 1970. He then attended Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, Iowa, and graduated with a degree in business in 1972.
Corby was united in marriage to Becky Miller on April 3, 1971, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Elkader. Two children were born to this union. They made their home in Elkader where they remained their entire life.
Early in his career, Corby was a painter. He then worked at Farm Service in the Tire Department. In 1983, Corby and Becky decided to start their own business called Corby’s Tire and Muffler Service. They were in business 39 years.
Corby was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He was extremely hard working and possessed a tremendous work ethic. Corby was also a jokester and loved being with his family. His hobbies included canoeing, camping in the Boundary waters with the Berns family, trapping, hunting, fishing, watching sports (particularly baseball), doing projects with Becky, playing cards, cribbage, marbles, tending to a garden, and visiting their children and their families. Corby was an athlete in several sports from a young age. He helped build the diamonds that are now the youth diamonds for Elkader and coached little league. As an adult, he played men’s semi-fast pitch softball for many years for Dittmer Dodge team. Many games were played and won – – and much fun was had by all!
He was a lifelong member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Elkader. He served as well an usher and as a member of the Finance Committee as well being a member of the Knights of Columbus.
Survivors include his wife Becky; daughter, Tracy (Doug) Silzer; son, James (Jenny) Gundacker; grandchildren, Thomas (Sophie) Rial, Michael, Sara, and Bryce Gundacker, Grant Silzer, and great-grandchild, Arthur Rial and his sister, Charlene (Jerome) Moser.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Charles and Geraldine: mother and father-in-law, John and Mariella Miller; his grandparents Ed and Delia Ehrhardt, and Phillip and Barbara Gundacker.
Visitation: 8:30 AM until Mass time on Friday, June 16, 2023, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Elkader.
Mass of Christian Burial: 10:30 AM on Friday, June 16, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, with Rev. John Haugen as Celebrant.
Inurnment: Will be held at a later date.
Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Elkader is assisting the family.