E. Gary Homan

A salt of the earth sort of man, Emery “Gary” Homan was a humble and mild man with a resilient strength that is to be admired. Known for his strong work ethic, he was a firm believer in the notion that anything worth doing is worth doing right. Gary was a simple man, not in a bad way, but in a no frills, just the facts sort of way. He was a man of strong conviction who was passionate about the things he believed in, never wavering with the whims of world around him. If it had four wheels and the name “Ford” on it, Gary was all over it and as far as he was concerned, the faster the better. A true diamond in the rough, he will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.

As the forties dawned in America, hope lingered on the horizon as the thirties were some of the darkest days we had ever seen due to the grip of the Great Depression that offered no mercy throughout the entire decade. By 1940, the unemployment rate had been on the decline for quite some time and although WWII was escalating overseas, we had great hope of remaining neutral. In 1941 a young family of three was preparing for the birth of their baby in Lansing, Michigan. It was on April 2nd of that year that Emery was welcomed into the arms of his parents, Emery and Minnie (Cockerell) Homan, joining his older brother, Jack in his family. With the births of his younger siblings Suzanne, Gwen, and Steve, the family of seven was complete. When Gary, as he was most often known, was still a young boy, his family moved to Portage, located in the southwestern region of the state, where he fit right in among his peers. His strong work ethic emerged when he was just 14 as he got his first job at the root beer stand in Milwood. Gary attended local schools and was so proud to graduate from Portage Central High School in 1959.

Once his primary education was behind him, Gary went on to Ferris State University, which was known as Ferris State College at the time. Ready to enter the workforce, he secured employment with Anderson & Son Distributors, but he later was the owner and operator of West Michigan Laser where he remained for the rest of his career.

From the time he was 18 years old, Gary was passionate about drag racing. In 1962 he was one of the first drivers to race at Martin Dragway, which has now become known as “the fastest track in Michigan.” Gary was a regular racer there for many years. Even when he wasn’t racing he was a car owner and was thrilled that his car recently was the Street Championship and the Divisional Championship at the dragway. He was also a charter member of the Ford Racing Club and a lifelong fanatic of Ford performance vehicles. A car enthusiast to his core, Gary had several classic cars at one time that were his pride and joy.

In addition to racing and cars, Gary had some others interests as well. He owned 80 acres in Baldwin where he loved spending time out in nature. Gary was a history buff who enjoyed watching old Westerns and the History Channel. He loved sports of all kinds, but particularly enjoyed golf and baseball.

One of the things Gary was most known for was his kind heart. He dearly loved and enjoyed the companionship of his cat, Zany, and he was deeply saddened with the death of his cat last year. Gary was also a staunch conservative and was a loyal contributor to the pro-life movement.

With his kind heart and spirit of generosity, Emery “Gary” Homan lived his life to the fullest each day. He was willing to work hard, but he could play hard, too. A loyal and beloved son, brother, uncle, and friend, Gary’s memory will remain forever near and dear to the hearts of those he dearly loved.

Gary Homan died on Thursday, July 21, 2011. Members of Gary’s family include his mother, Minnie; siblings, Jack Homan of Wyoming, Suzanne (Bernard) Pingel of Indianapolis, IN, Gwen (Phillip) Rouse of Bloomingdale, and Steve (Karen) Homan of Kansas; and several nieces and nephews. Gary was preceded in death by his father and his sister in law, Wanda Homan. Learn more about Gary, view his life story film and visit with his family and friends while sharing light refreshments Wednesday from 5-7:30 at Life Story Funeral Home Portage, 5975 Lovers Lane (344-5600). Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at St. Augustine Cathedral Thursday at 10 a.m. Please visit Gary’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can archive a memory or photo, sign his guestbook before coming to the funeral home, and make a memorial donation to St. Augustine Cathedral.