Gary Leroy Nelson

With his loving wife by his side, Gary Leroy Nelson, passed away Thursday, April 2, 2026, into the arms of his beloved Lord and Savior. He was 79 years old.

He was born to Otto and Selma Nelson in Little Falls, Minnesota, and spent his childhood in Cushing, a place he cherished as "down home." In the early 1950s the family moved to Aurora, Minnesota, where Gary graduated from high school. He attended Virginia Junior College, then moved to Duluth to study at the University of Minnesota, Duluth.

A man of deeply held faith, Gary was a member of the Duluth Bible Church for many years.

His church family was dear to his heart, as was his study of the Word of God and Christian apologetics. He was always eager to meet new people, treating everyone with kindness and respect, often quickly discovering fellow believers.

In 1972 he married Linda Hoshal, and they settled on the compelling and beautiful Minnesota Point. He told many stories about adventurous walks on the beach with their much-loved English Springer Spaniel.

Gary spent years working with children in the Duluth Crisis Shelter, an experience that meant a great deal to him. He then was an insurance agent for many years, which gave him an opportunity to get to know many of his clients. Gary loved driving and his final job delivering medical supplies to Grand Rapids, Deer River and Bigfork allowed him to become friends with many in those areas.

Gary was a long-time birder and avid photographer, a lover of art and music of many kinds.

He loved dogs (who also loved him), golf and Bulldog hockey. Gary and Linda took many cross-country driving trips, visiting the Black Hills in particular many times. He thoroughly loved being at his in-laws' family cabin on Wasson Lake in Itasca County, whether picking wild strawberries and blueberries, canoeing or just enjoying reading on the porch.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Timothy and Douglas.

Gary is survived by his wife, Linda; sisters, Sher (Roger) Leksen and Lynette (Rick) VanSoest; sister-in-law, Jean Nelson; brother-in-law, John Hoshal (Mary Sumpmann); sisters-in-law Darcy Smith, Judy Carlson, and Victoria Hoshal; nieces and nephews and their children and many other family members and friends.

Gary and Linda extend special thanks for the excellent care he received from Dr. Daniel Nikcevich and the entire team at Essentia Health Cancer Center in Duluth.

Committal service and interment will be at 1PM, Friday, April 10, 2026, at Forest Hill Cemetery.

Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 218-727-3555. Please visit www.dfhduluth.com to sign the online guestbook.