1949
Gary
2008
Gary Austad
July 27, 1949 — October 11, 2008
Gary
Gary Allen Austad was born July 27, 1949 in Thief River Falls, MN to Ole and Ione (Weberg) Austad. He was raised and educated in Oklee, MN, graduating from Oklee High School in 1967. He served with the U. S. Army in Viet Nam with the First Infantry (The Big Red One). Gary was united in marriage to Kathy Carriere, in 1970 in Oklee. They lived in Thief River Falls, MN and later moved to Lake Park, MN, where Gary worked for the Burlington Northern Rail Road. He moved to Detroit Lakes where he attended Northwest Technical College and then worked for the U. S. Postal Service, Sears and Lakes Homes. Gary was united in marriage to Darlene Kunz in Detroit Lakes in 2003.
He was a member of the Lake Park American Legion, Jess-Omundson V F W Post in Detroit Lakes, the V F W Honor Guard and Color Guard, served as a cook for V F W activities and Alcoholics Anonymous, where he had achieved 24 years of sobriety.
Gary enjoyed spending time with his family, was an avid hunter, fishing, biking, helping others, doing volunteer work at the Becker County D. A. C.; going to the casino, Golf, gardening, doing carpentry work and playing Bingo at the VFW and Eagles.
Survivors include his wife, Darlene of Detroit Lakes; son, Jamey of Scandia, MN; step-children, Michael (Tammy) Kunz of Audubon, MN, Kristie (John) Pierre of San Diego, CA, Teri (Dustin) Krause of Detroit Lakes; grandchildren, Liam, Alexandra, Ginnia, Emma, Austin; two brothers, Russell and Lyle both of Oklee; two sisters, Judy Bartz of Coon Rapids, MN and Jeanne Hoiby of Blaine, MN. He was preceded in death by a son Jonathan and his parents.
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