Gary Wayne Watne

Beloved Husband, Father, Brother, Uncle and Friend

Age 81 of Lake Elmo, Minnesota. Born March 4, 1944 in Minot, North Dakota.

Passed away on July 31, 2025. Preceded in death by Parents, Willard and Audrey (Sletten) Watne; sisters Tamra Jo Watne and Kaye Shemorry, brother Jeff and nephew Jason Wiedrich. Survived by loving wife and best friend of 46 years, Lois (Beaudry) Watne and son Andrew, sisters Sandee Wiedrich and Candess Hunter. Nieces and Friends. Gary was a Marine veteran serving in Vietnam, he worked for First Computer Corporation and US Bank for 40 years. He was a recreational pilot who flew his Mooney airplanes often. He was happy when his son Andrew was big enough to sit in the front seat to become his “copilot”. He enjoyed fishing, golfing, playing the piano, hunting, tending his roses, doing home repairs and going to basketball games.

“When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return”

High Flight

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

of sun-split clouds,-and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of-wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,

I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air....

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue

I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace

Where never lark nor ever eagle flew-

And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand, and touched the face of God

-John G. Magee

Private services will be held. Interment Hazelwood Cemetery, Bayport, Minnesota.

Memorials preferred to Our Lady of Peace Hospice, St. Paul, MN or Parkinson’s Foundation Minnesota