Gary Tritle

Gary Lee Tritle, age 55, passed away January 19, 2025. A memorial service will be held at 2 PM on Thursday, January 23 at Bayview Freeborn Funeral Home. Reverend Kent Otterman will officiate.A visitation will be held one hour prior to service.

Gary was born on December 18, 1969, in Anamosa, Iowa to Mark Ekstrom and Mary (Tritle) VonHagen. He grew up in Albert Lea and graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1988. After his schooling, Gary worked as a trailer mechanic at Crossroad Trailers. He worked as a mechanic for 32 years. On August 29, 2015, he was united in marriage to Tamara Kreun. The couple made their home in Clarks Grove.

Gary enjoyed playing bags, bonfires with friends, meticulously caring for his vehicles and he was an avid NASCAR fan. He was a social butterfly and loved spending time with his family and friends and his beloved dog, Harley.

He is survived by his wife, Tamara Tritle; mother Mary (Wayne) VonHagen; father Mark (Paula) Ekstrom; sisters Shari (Dan) Zamora, Tracy (Will) Adam, Brooke Boetticher; brothers, Dean (Kim) VonHagen, Allen (Lynn) VonHagen, David VonHagen, Mike (Shannon) VonHagen; children, Taylor Spooner, Trevor Spooner, Tanner Spooner (Tara Callahan); grandchildren Oakley Spooner, Derek Navarro, Bentley Spooner, Ella Spooner, Rhea Luna, Zoie Luna, Jali Luna, Chance Voulon; mother-in-law, Lorna Meister; brother-in-law, Steven (Kristi) Kreun; sister-in-law Beth (Joe) Raper; uncle Randy Tritle; several nieces and nephews.

Gary is preceded in death by his grandparents, Ivan and Marlys Tritle; uncles Russell VonHagen, Dennis VonHagen, William VonHagen; father-in-law, Charles Meister; granddaughter Tanlyn Spooner.