Garnett W. Held

Garnett Wayne Held

Garnett Wayne Held, born December 8, 1931, to Roy and Juanita Held in Nodaway Iowa, passed away peacefully on January 2, 2026, at his residence at Addington Place in Shiloh IL. He and his 5 siblings grew up moving from town to town in rural Iowa as his father, with the support of his mother, chased teaching and minister positions eventually landing on a farm. After several years of learning the ways of manual farming, Garnett knew farming was not for him and joined the Army. He served a three-year tour gaining military experience and getting to know the Aleutian Islands in Alaska during the Koren War.

Garnett returned to Iowa and earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Iowa. He remained a loyal fan of the University of Iowa his entire life. He was known to randomly start singing “On Iowa, on forevermore”! (one of the University of Iowa fight songs “On Iowa”)

In the late 50’s, during a chance meeting at his brother Byron’s house, he met his future bride, the love of his life, Mary. He spent the next couple years courting her (via 2hr drive from Cedar Rapids, IA to Alison, IA) while finishing his degree at the University of Iowa. After graduation, he got a job in Minneapolis MN where he continued driving 4hrs to visit on weekends until they were finally married on November 20, 1960, and he could have her by his side.

In 1966, after adopting their 1st child Jeffrey, Garnett and Mary moved to Tucson where they adopted their daughter, Teresa, and had their 2nd son Gregory. They stayed for over 50 years until their health brought them to New Baden IL to be closer to their daughter. While in Tucson, Garnett worked at Hughes Aircraft Co. for 25 years before retiring and becoming a fulltime handyman who couldn’t sit still. He could fix almost anything, one way or another. He always had a list of projects which grew exponentially when he retired. He never hesitated to share his talent to fix things with others who needed assistance.

Garnett and Mary spent 63 1/3 years by each other’s side travelling everywhere from state to state (even driving cross country well into their 80’s to visit family), to China, Hawaii, Europe, Mexico, Alaska, the Caribbean, England, Ireland and Scotland. They travelled by plane, train, and automobile. He pulled trailers, rowed boats, camped in mountains, stayed in cabins, sailed on ships as he took in the world around him trying to satisfy his unending curiosity.

Garnett, with his wife, raised three children spending endless hours coaching, practicing and spectating with various sports, musical interests, boy scouts, Indian guides and any other endeavor his children wanted to try. Garnett and Mary loved sports….all sports. Since Garnett could no longer watch all the University of Iowa games, he adopted the University of Arizona. He and Mary held season tickets for U of A football and basketball, becoming die-hard fans and meeting people and making friends as was his way. Garnett also enjoyed taking his family to countless former Tucson Toros AAA baseball games.

For decades, Garnett was an integral part of Tanque Verde Lutheran Church in Tucson AZ. He ushered most Sundays, helped get the sanctuary ready before services and cleaned up after. He helped distribute newsletters and other office tasks. He was also there to lend a hand with distributing food baskets and other items to those in need. Garnett was a founding member of Desert Hope Lutheran Church in Tucson and helped in any way he could to support their growth and success.

Garnett always had a joke on his lips, a handshake for a friend or friend–to–be. He was always questioning and could start and hold a conversation with almost anyone. He was genuinely curious about people, their experiences and their backgrounds. He would do whatever he could to help someone; more than once giving someone a place to stay to get back on their feet. Garnett lived 94 meaningful years, expressing gratitude and humility. Even in declining health, his positive attitude, humor, and appreciation for family and caregivers touched those around him. His impact was effortless—he simply lived day by day.

Family was first and foremost to Garnett. He was a proud father to Jeffrey (Carine) Held, Teresa (Dave) Jones and Gregory Held; a proud grandfather to Lynda (Austin Wardrip) Jones, Jennifer (Keenan)Gunter, Paul Jones and Ryan Held; and a proud great-grandfather to Leah Hicks, Kassidy Hicks, Liana Gunter, Kiera gunter, Kyle Gunter and Kaleb Gunter.

Garnett was preceded in death by his parents Roy and Juanita Held, His wife Mary (Broderick) Held, sister Virginia (Taylor) Held, brother Marvin Held, sister-in-law Jennie Lou Held, Brother Curtis Held, Sister-in-law Betty Held, Sister Dorothy (Jarrell)Held, Nephew Michael Held.

In addition to his children and grandchildren, Garnett also leaves behind his brother Byron Held and many nieces and nephews.

A joint celebration of life remembering the lives of Garnett Held and Mary Held will be held in Tucson Az on March 14, 2026, at 1100am at Desert Hope Lutheran Church.