Gary J. Vancel, 65, of Lafayette; formerly of Mulberry, passed away Sunday, September 1, 2024, at IU Health Arnett Hospital in Lafayette. He was born in Middlesboro, Kentucky on September 22, 1958, to Joe and Wanda (Tinnel) Vancel. He married Brenda Coyner on May 5, 1979, and she survives.
Gary was a 1977 graduate of Clinton Prairie High School. He worked for Western Southern Insurance, formerly Lafayette Life Insurance, for 37 years, and retired in October of 2023. He was a former member of Mulberry Baptist Church. Gary was an avid watcher of basketball, bowling, and NASCAR, especially Purdue sports and Colts football. He also enjoyed going to derbies and county fairs. Gary considered himself a computer geek. He always tinkered and played with computers and enjoyed rebuilding and building them.
Along with his wife of 45 years, Gary is survived by his sons, Eric Vancel and Joel (Katie) Vancel; sisters, Sandy (Steve) Patchett and Janet Grubbs; twin brother, Larry (Vickie) Vancel; brother, Ingraham “Mike” (Linda) Vancel; grandchildren, Brayden, Grayson, and Emersyn Vancel; several nephews, nieces, great nieces and great nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his in-laws, Bob and Janice Coyner; and an uncle, Sam Vancel.
Visitation will be held Thursday, September 5, 2024, from 4-7pm at Day & Genda Funeral Home ~ Mulberry Chapel. Funeral services will be held, 11am, Friday, September 6, 2024, at the funeral home. Pastor Ross Terry will officiate. Burial will follow at Fair Haven Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the National Kidney Foundation. Messages of condolence may be left at www.dayandgenda.com.