Gary L. Marr

GARY L MARR 

(May 17, 1948 – April 30, 2026) 

Gary was born on Monday, May 17, 1948, at St Joseph Hospital, in Dodgeville, Wisconsin, to Henry Edward and Nelda Mae (Ruck) Marr. He joined one brother John Edward and one sister, Sharon. He later became a big brother to Mike and three more sisters, Donna, Nancy, and Pat. 

Gary was baptized in the Methodist Church and later confirmed in the Evangelical United Brethren Church. 

During Gary’s childhood, the family moved around a lot across central and southern Wisconsin where he attended several grade schools. He attended two years of high school in Horicon, Wisconsin, then last two years at Iowa-Grant High School while living in Montfort, Wisconsin. Gary went on to attend and graduate with a degree in business from UW-Platteville. 

Growing up, Gary could be quite a jokester. When attending a country school during his grade school years, he would get up in front of the class and put on a comedy show that would have the students laughing and clapping. 

Gary grew up on a farm for much of his childhood where he learned to work hard and developed a strong body and solid work ethic at an early age. It could be said of Gary that he definitely knew how to work but sometimes forgot to take time just to have fun along life’s road, especially as he got older. Growing up he would often go hunting and fishing with his dad, brothers, or friends. When on the farm, he along with his siblings, were involved in 4-H club. Gary showed cattle as well as pigs at the Wisconsin State Fair and the local county fair. One year he was trampled by his heifer calf at the county fair while showing it but managed to pull it together and won a blue ribbon in spite of this occurrence. 

Gary’s dad passed away when he was a junior in high school. He then took his responsibility of being the “man” of the house quite seriously. Again, his work ethic and sense of responsibility went to another level as he finished high school, even while participating in sports – football, wrestling, and track, while also working part-time. He held the school record in a track event for many years. 

While attending college, during the summer he would work long hours for the Cobb Canning Company. He often would work from 4 or 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., or later. It didn’t leave much time to spend with his girlfriend, Linda, whom he later married. He would sometimes call his mom to ask her to pick up Linda, so they could spend a couple hours together after he got off work, knowing it would be too late by the time he got home to pick her up. Gary went on to marry Linda Austin on November 22, 1969. As the youngest in the family, Linda had five older brothers that Gary had to win over. Not only did he exceed their expectations, he gained five new brothers in the process. 

Gary enlisted in the Army Reserves in 1969 and served for six years. He went through boot camp at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He then was stationed at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indiana. 

After marriage, he went back to school at UW-Madison, so he could apply for his CPA which allowed him to later start his own accounting firm. 

Gary and Linda moved to Portage, Wisconsin, where he joined an accounting firm. 

Gary always had an interest in planes and obtained his pilot’s license while living in Portage. For a few years, Gary enjoyed flying his plane. It was something that he found exciting and enjoyable. 

In 1975, Gary and Linda welcomed their son, Greg; and two years later Glen joined the family. 

In 1984, Gary and Linda moved to Longwood, Florida, seeking better weather for Linda. There, he started his own C.P.A. firm and worked until retiring in 2020. 

When his sons married, Gary was quick to adopt Christina and Kate as his own daughters and loved them very much. 

In his later years, Gary sought to renew and strengthen relationships with his siblings and family, talking with many of them weekly on the phone. He was very tech savvy and really enjoyed seeing people even when they couldn’t be in the room with him. He also enjoyed walking the neighborhood and would plan his walks to coincide with neighbors’ chore schedules, so they would be outside and available to chat. 

He enjoyed traveling when he was able to do so and over the course of his lifetime was able to see most of the lower 48 states and parts of Canada.

Over the years, Gary was a servant for the Kingdom of God, working as financial secretary at Sanlando UMC, participating on mission trips to Haiti and Costa Rica, and supporting others through Bible study, prayer, and financial giving. Gary instilled the importance of working hard, giving back and investing in others into his own sons. 

Gary always enjoyed playing cards and games with his siblings, kids and later his grandkids (Hannah, Taylor, Amady, Milo, and Jane). If there was a good game on television, football or basketball, he was there, asleep in the recliner before halftime. 

Gary was present, as a caregiver for Linda, as a provider for the family, and as a cheerleader for those in his life.

To share your memories of Gary or to leave a special message for his family online please visit the guestbook below.