Dr. Gary Dean Harter

Dr. Gary Dean Harter, 88, of Corning, Iowa passed away on May 20, 2025 at the EveryStep Kavanaugh Hospice House in Des Moines, Iowa. Private graveside services will be held at a later date at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter, Iowa. Pearson Family Funeral Service & Cremation Center in Corning, Iowa is in charge of professional arrangements. Memorials may be directed to EveryStep Hospice &/or CHI Mercy Hospital, Corning, Iowa. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.pearsonfuneralhomes.com.

Gary Dean Harter, the son of Arlie & Julia (Jipsen) Harter, was born on April 21, 1937, in Wiota, Iowa. He had two daughters by his first marriage to Carolyn Cole. He was later married to Eva Breakenridge.

After graduating from Wiota High School as Valedictorian of the Class of 1955, he went on to earn his BS degree from Iowa State University. He then served as a 1st Lieutenant (Engineer) in the Marines. Following his Honorable Discharge from the Marines, he went back to Iowa State University where he received his MS & Ph.D. While working on his graduate degree, he was one of eight graduate students to be offered the opportunity to learn how to write computer programs on the large, building sized computer Iowa State University had built on campus because the University had no one who could write the programs to run it. He was able to use the computer programming to assist him in his many calculations in work for his Ph.D. After graduation, Gary worked for Pioneer for three years & then went into partnership with Don Williams of Villisca, Iowa in a large, cattle, hog, farming operation. While there he wrote the computer programs for tracking all the cattle & hog business.

He started his Harter Microcomputing business in early 1980's after leaving the farm & designed & wrote billing programs for small businesses in a five-state area. During this time, he had the special privilege of working with Dr. Bob de Baca, Stan Roberts, & Dennis Blazek, three men with extraordinary knowledge & visions for the future. After retirement Gary turned to his love of music & his childhood love of the violin. He studied with Rev. Ken Rummer, who encouraged Gary to be in recitals & to play violin in church occasionally. Gary loved his backyard trees & flowers & spent many hours caring for them.

Survivors include his wife, Eva Breakenridge-Harter; his grandsons, George & Gus Cooper: great-grand-son, Foster: other grandchildren, Chase, Adriana, Grace: brother-in-law, Charles Devereaux: stepsons, Ray & Rob Breakenridge: his rescue cat Callie: & many beloved nieces & nephews, family & friends.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Arlie & Julie Harter: a brother, James S. Harter: a daughter, Anne Harter: a grandson, Gilman Harter Cooper: a sister, Gloria Devereaux: & loved grandparents, cousins, & nephew.