Gary Walk, 1933-2017

Published 12:04 am Friday, December 22, 2017

Funeral services for Gary Duane Walk, 84, of Albert Lea will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Bonnerup Funeral Service chapel in Albert Lea. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Bonnerup Funeral Service and one hour prior to the service on Wednesday. Interment will be in the Fairview Cemetery of Kiester. Military honors will be accorded by the Albert Lea area veterans groups.

Gary died peacefully at his home on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017.

Gary Walk

He was born April 1, 1933, in Northwood to Edward W. and Ruth (Johnson) Walk. Gary was baptized in Northwood and confirmed at the First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. As a child he lived in Silver Lake, Iowa, and then Albert Lea.

He attended country school in Silver Lake and then moved to Albert Lea, where they farmed Obie Anderson’s farm — which is now the site of Southwest Middle School. Gary attended Ramsey Elementary and Albert Lea High School. He worked for Kensota Farms and Bob Phillips as farm help. For a short time, he worked at Olson Motors before starting at Wilson & Co. in 1951.

Gary joined the Navy and served from 1952 to 1956, then returning to Wilson & Co. before retiring in 1990.

On Sept. 15, 1963, he was united in marriage to Gloria Mae Schroader at the chapel at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. To that union two children were born, Michael Duane Walk and Steven Scott Walk. They made their home in Albert Lea since 1964.

Gary was a member of First Lutheran Church, where he ushered for many years. He loved horses and watching old Western movies. He was an accomplished artist, enjoyed antique thrashing shows, hunting, dancing, old time music, having coffee with friends and family and talking about his grandkids and great-granddaughter.

Gary is survived by sons Michael Walk and Steven (Deanne) Walk, both of Kiester; brother, Dean (Janie) Walk of Turtle River; sister, Judy (Don) Schultz of Medford; grandchildren Adam Walk, Brian (Sara) Walk, Andrew Walk, Taylor Chose and Ryan Stoneman; and great-granddaughter, Rylea Walk. Also surviving is brother-in-law, Robert Guenther; sisters-in-law Marilyn (Toots) Moe and Carmen Meyer; and many nieces and nephews.

Gary was preceded in death by his wife of 51 years, Gloria, in 2015; parents Edward and Ruth; father- and mother-in-law Roy and Ida Schroader; sisters Joy (Eslie) Bergstrom and Betty Guenther; brothers Ronald (Sheila) Walk, Larry Walk, David Walk and Bruce Walk, in infancy; and many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.