Gary B. Woehler Obit

Our father, Chris Woehler  and Doug Woehler are both humbled and grateful. Gary Bernard Woehler passed away in August of 2023 at age 84, after an adventure filled and productive life.   Gary was born June of 1939 and was a proud lifelong Minnesotan. Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Bernard and Ione and his daughter Kimberly.   As a child he grew up working with his grandfather and uncle at a tin shop when phone numbers still had two digits, theirs was 13! He also learned with his father to operate a city’s water system and these experiences would be valuable to him throughout his life. In high school  he met his beautiful ballerina named Karen Marie Schwarzkopf. Karen was swept off her feet, accepted his proposal and gave up her idea of becoming a nun! They married in 1960 and their union lasted 63 years, until his death. Their married life began with the purchase of land in Lawler, MN where they developed a tree farm and this is still owned and operated by the family.   During their marriage, they welcomed two sons Christopher and Douglas and a daughter Kimberly.  Karen was Gary’s rock and was the key reason he was able to lead the life he did.   The family was raised in Crosby, MN, and initially resided in the upper portion of their hardware store purchased from E.W. and Jessie Hallett. Both Karen and Gary maintained a close relationship with the Halletts until their deaths.  The family also lived on Second Street, later moving for a couple years to Black Hoof Lake, all in Crosby. Most of the time was spent raising their children at the home he and Karen built on Rabbit Lake, in Cuyuna, MN. His final home was where it all started in Lawler, MN, where he and Karen started their tree farm. Gary was a man of many vocations and avocations.  His career varied from delivering pizzas from the back of an old scooter in high school to being a lead designer with the Apollo moon launch navigation system. Gary also held multiple patents ranging throughout many disciplines of technology. As his knowledge grew it created an enormous skillset which sent him on a path exploring various chemical, mechanical, electrical, forestry, land management, water distribution and purification systems.  During Gary’s life he created or assisted in many commercial activities.  His first endeavor began with a dream of owning property where he could foster the land.  He then worked with dear friends to establish a working cattle farm in Northern MN. After six years of working with Sperry/ Univac, and their cattle farm, he sold their portion to start his first individual real business venture with the Crosby Our Own Hardware, located in Crosby. He worked with another partner as the lead design engineer to start up a manufacturing plant that created wood pellets located just outside the town of Crosby. In addition, he also started another corporation that made pellet-based heating systems he named ChiDuKi (Chris/Doug/Kim).  During this time, Gary also worked with Hali-Brite for many years as their chief design engineer as well as owner/partner with the Lori Ester Hassock Company, again in Crosby. As Gary progressed with his business ventures, he ultimately created his largest business that he named, Comteq.  This is where Gary took his knowledge of electronic technology and applied his efforts fully toward the airport lighting industry.  Many in this industry still ask us about Gary. While in Crosby, Gary was an active plank owner volunteer with Sno-Serpents snowmobile club working with land owners to agree to land easements for trails to be established throughout the greater Cuyuna Range. Gary and his sons spent many weeks clearing land, all of which is still used today. Habitat for Humanity, reclamation of many homes in town and surrounding areas, and the Croft Mine reclamation program.  Gary was also very active in his early days with the Crosby Chamber of Commerce, formulation of “Crazy Daze” and decades conducting the Annual Fourth of July Fireworks. During their lives, Gary and Karen were actively engaged with their faith, their spirituality, and many charities.  Together they spent endless time working with various local churches as well as churches in Guatemala, Dominican Republic, and Madagascar. Gary and Karen enjoyed traveling and bringing their missionary work to all. Additionally, as he aged his altruistic activities grew. He founded Dominican Eyes which still provides used, optometrically matched eyeglasses to the visually impaired.  The foundation also supplies and delivers weekly food to the Aids victims in the Dominican Republic.  He improved the welfare of humanity not only locally but throughout the world.  Gary immersed himself in many ventures with the ultimate objective of making the world a better place, and he sure did.  He continued this through his final days, assisting his family and his friends or anyone in need of assistance.   Gary is survived by his loving wife Karen and his sons, Christopher (Kandy) and Douglas Woehler and his grandchildren Brandon, Derek, Seth, and Samantha.   He was loved by his family and countless friends for his kindness, outlook on life and especially his sense of humor. We will be gathering to celebrate his remarkable life on June 30, 2024, 4 to 6 p.m. at Jackson’s Hole located at 26232 Kestrel Avenue in McGregor, MN.  Please join us at this uplifting Celebration of Life event, we would love to hear your humorous stories that honor the remarkable man we all knew, loved, and will dearly miss.