Garold L. Walker

Garold “Red “Walker, 93, passed away on Friday, February 13, 2026, at Creekside Living in Grundy Center. A Celebration of Life service, with luncheon to immediately follow, will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at Orchard Hill Church, 1800 G Avenue, Grundy Center, Iowa. "If you have a couple of favorite pictures of Dad that you would like to share with everyone, please bring them to the service!"

Red was born on June 16, 1932, in Stanberry, Missouri and attended Stanberry schools through his high school graduation. He attended the University of Missouri on a football scholarship for 1 year and finished his college degree at the Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, MO where he also played football with an added bonus of playing with his younger brother Darrell. Red joined and was an officer in the Marines from 1956-1958. In July of 1956, Red married the lovely Shirley Sierp and thus began their 69-year union. Red had a 34-year career in education that included teaching, coaching and administrative roles. He retired in 1992 in a principal administrative role (after all 3 daughters got to experience him in this role at their school) He retired to Lake Viking in Gallatin, MO in 1993 where he happily resided with Shirley.

Red was known for running his schools with the precision of the military, being an advocate for his teachers, being a protective father (ask any boy who tried to date his daughters) and fiercely loving his wife Shirley and his entire family and friends that were like family. A perfect day for Red would be having coffee with Shirley in the am, mowing his lawn all day then having as many family/friends as possible sitting on the deck with him and Shirley in the evening hours or “Happy Hour” which always included is favorite snack of oyster crackers. His lake days also included his joy of driving around family /friends in the boat for skiing and/or tubing.

Red is survived and lovingly remembered by his loving wife, Shirley; three daughters : Deb Smith, Karla (Tim) Michener and Paula Walker; 9 grandchildren , Danielle (Mitch) Munson , Amanda (Matt) Starr, Paige (Bryan) Mueller , Allie (Derek) Dolan , Emily (Kyle ) Strohbehn , Levi ( Bre) Michener, Ashley (Nate) Daniel , Kavalyn Wilson and Katia Wilson ; 16 great-grandchildren : Drew, Cade , Mace, Ellie, Brayden, Lily, Eily, Landry , Layton , Luke, Haven, River, Gabriel, Lane, Wyatt and Atlas; sister-in-law Wanda Walker , and many nieces and nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his: sister Rosalie (Bob) Kurtright, brother Darrel Walker, daughter Anne Marie, and son-in-law R. J. Smith.

In lieu of flowers, donations /memorials can be made to St. Croix hospice who lovingly took care of Red. St. Croix Hospice 6112 Chancellor Dr. Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613, 319-260-2157.