Gary Stimmler

Gary Donald Stimmler
Born January 22, 1936
Died January 13, 2023

Gary Donald Stimmler of Fridley, MN, passed away peacefully on January 13, 2023 at the age of 86 years.

Gary was born to Donald Joseph and Geraldine Clara (Engel) Stimmler in Minneapolis on January 22, 1936, a day that holds the Minnesota record -67° windchill. He attended St. Bridget Catholic school a block from his home in the Camden neighborhood of North Minneapolis from 1st through 8th grades, then attended De LaSalle High School, graduating in 1953.

He enlisted in the Army in 1954 and served as a radio operator until 1956, including a year in Japan. After his tour of duty, Gary worked for the Prudential Insurance Co. where he met his future wife, the late Barbara Jeanette Holmes. He was an early computer analyst, working at Honeywell and GTA with early versions of Cray computers. After retirement, he became the proverbial snowbird, spending his winters in Boynton Beach, Florida and then Mesa, Arizona, where he was able to enjoy the great outdoors and golf to his heart’s content.

Preceded in death by his parents and sister, Donna Mae (Stimmler) Kampmeier, Gary is survived by his children; Cynthia Stimmler (Bill Perron), Sheryl Cady, Patti Carroll, Steven Stimmler (Cheryl Aspelund) and David Stimmler (Amy Ristinen); grandchildren, Justen (Hallee) Caron, Tyler (Briana) Stimmler, Cameron Stimmler, Rachel (Aaron) Courtright, Sean Carroll and Clare Carroll. He’s also survived by four beautiful great-grandchildren, several cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Gary was an avid reader and enjoyed classical music, puzzles of all kinds, travel, playing cards, horse racing, mountain hiking, skating, and coaching hockey. He loved to hunt and fish with his family while growing up. He especially loved nature and visits to the National Parks and Civil War Battlefields. Also an ardent walker, he earned the nickname “The 5 Miler” shortly after his move to assisted living in May. But his true, lifelong passion was golf, beginning with his first job caddying at Golden Valley Golf Club, all the way to working for the Minnesota Golf Association as the head of the Minnesota Course Rating Team. Several of his favorite golf memories were while volunteering for PGA tournaments that came to the Twin Cities. He came up just a few states short of golfing in all 50 states and was always trying to improve his game. He was a prudent man of integrity and will be remembered as a hard-working provider, loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was a great fan of his children and grandchildren’s sporting, theatrical and academic accomplishments. He volunteered cataloguing book donations during his snow-bird winters. His advice was to be as good a person as you can be. Be a good friend to as many as you can and be as helpful to others as you can be.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, February 5, 2023, from 1 – 4 pm at Green Haven Golf Club, 2800 Greenhaven Road, Anoka, MN. Stories and remembrances will be shared.

Private interment will be at Fort Snelling.

Memorials preferred to the National Parks Conservation Association (www.npca.org).
Online condolences are welcome at www.BradshawFuneral.com/listings.