Gary Sebright

Gary Sebright, 83 yrs old (1942-2026), also known as ‘Dad’ to his kids and ‘Papa’ to his grandkids, stepped into heaven on Jun 20.

He joined the Marines at 17 in 1959, got married at 20 in 1962 to Jan VanDyke while in service in California, and had 4 children over the next 9 yrs. Kim, Mark, Tim and Jody.

Gary and Jan moved back to Michigan after completion of his service in 1963 and began his career in road construction as a heavy equipment operator, which he would do for the next 48 yrs into retirement. He loved his work and had a deep, strong work ethic all his life that carried into everything he did.

He came from a rough background, without faith or church, and came to both when he met Jan. The seed of his faith was planted, and grew strong throughout his life. With determination and discipline, he successfully forged a better path, a far more stable life for his family than the one he was raised with. We greatly admired him for that.

He was loved for his dedication to his family, his being there when needed, or when just wanted, his generous willingness to help, to get his hands dirty for anothers benefit, to get involved, right until the end. He was loved for his caring, his wonderful wit and sense of humor, easy laughter, kindness, his attentive, inquisitive listening, and selflessness.

He took life as it came to him and made the most of it, without needing it to be other than it was. He liked living. He loved the Lord, he adored his wife and family, and loved his yard / garden. These things defined him, and were evident to all that knew him.

He was a wonderful father, easy to love and feel loved by as he grew softer over the years, and his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren are all crazy about him.

We sit now in the yard in which he spent countless hours, on the lawn that he insisted he mow twice a week, looking out at the plants he was always tending, to the flowers blooming, to the rabbit with babies he accommodated in his garden, to the birds caring for their chicks in one of his birdhouses, to his beloved hostas in bloom as the wind moves through their leaves, all the things he loved to pour himself into and enjoy, and we see and feel him and the Lord he loved in it all.

We will all miss him intensely, until we see him again.

Gary is survived by his beloved wife Jan, their children Kim DeMeester, Mark Sebright (Brenda), Tim Sebright (Lisa), and Jody Pirrotta, eight grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

A private graveside service was held on Jun 25, 2026 at Fairplains Cemetery.