Gary L. Briggs

Gary Lee Briggs, 75 of Ankeny, Iowa, passed away Saturday, August 1, 2026, at Methodist Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa, surrounded by his loving family following his strong battle with cancer.

Funeral Service: 10:30 A.M., Friday, August 7, 2026, at the Church of Christ United in Winthrop, Iowa with Reverend Vicki Engelman officiating.
Visitation: 4:00 to 7:00 P.M., Thursday, August 6, 2026, at the Fawcett-Schmitz Funeral Home in Winthrop and for one hour before the service at the church on Friday.
Inurnment: Byron Township Cemetery, Rural Winthrop, Iowa, at a later date.

Gary Lee Briggs was born February 10, 1951, in Independence, Iowa, the son of John Robert and Lois May (Steffen) Briggs. He graduated from East Buchanan High School in 1969. Gary went on to attend Iowa State University for a year before enlisting in the US Army in October of 1970. He served as a Military Police in Saigon during the end of the Vietnam War (April 1971 – April 1972). Gary completed his degree at Iowa State University in May 1976. On June 5, 1976, he was united in marriage to Debra Kay Payne at the Methodist Church in Independence. Gary spent 20 years working for Otis Elevator Company before starting his own business: Briggs Elevator Consulting, Inc., which he pursued for another 20 years.

Gary has resided in Ankeny, Iowa for the last 30 years after spending several years in various cities: St. Louis, Missouri; Fargo, North Dakota; and Springfield, Illinois, while working for Otis Elevator Company. He loved the outdoors, including hunting, fishing, hiking, and riding his motorcycles. Gary recently completed his goal to ride a motorcycle in all 50 states. He built a vacation home in the Black Hills, which was his sanctuary and comfort place. Gary enjoyed riding his UTV and ATVs on the trails in the Black Hills, especially when family visited and joined him.

Gary is survived by his loving wife of 50 years: Deb Briggs of Ankeny, Iowa; daughter: Andrea (Shawn) Romick; son: Brian (Jennifer) Briggs; 2 grandchildren: Skylar Briggs and Wyatt Romick; siblings: Leo (Georgia) Briggs, Terrie (Chuck) Mazur, Michael Briggs, Cathy (Wayne) Timmerman, Sandra Briggs and Diane Williams; sister-in-law: Becky Briggs; uncles and aunt; nieces and nephews and many cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother: Rick.