White Funeral Home
400 First Street West
Independence, Iowa 50644

Independence – David R. Gates, 60 years old, of Independence, Iowa, died on Tuesday, March 15, 2016, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa.  He was born on November 10, 1955, in Manchester, Iowa, the son of Loyal “Buster” Edwin and Norma Rose (Van Horn) Gates.  He graduated from high school in Independence with the Class of 1974.  On May 25, 1979, he and the former LuAnn Lea Zumbach were married at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Independence, Iowa.  For most of his life, Mr. Gates was a mechanic with the Iowa Department of Transportation in Independence.  Later he helped with mowing and mechanical work at the Parks and Recreation Department in Independence.  In his free time, he worked on rebuilding, repairing, and riding Harley Davidson and motocross motorcycles.  Mr. Gates’ children and the children of his extended family were always a focus of his life.

Mr. Gates is survived by his wife of 36 years, LuAnn, 1 son, Jonathan (Tanya) Gates of Gilber, Arizona, 1 daughter, Kristine Gates of Waterloo, Iowa, his mother, Norma Gates of Independence, and 3 sisters, Cathy (David) Lehs, Char (Tony) Marzen, and Mary (Dennis) Shannon, all of Independence.

He was preceded in death by his father.

Memorial Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 19, 2016, at the White Funeral Home in Independence with Pastor Greg DeBoer officiating.  Friends may call for visitation after 10:00 a.m. on Saturday at the funeral home.  White Funeral Home of Independence is in charge of arrangements.