Monday, January 16, 2023
Gary was my first cousin, two years older than me. Fond memories are pouring from my soul as I mourn. My father, Don, was a brother to Gary’s father, Everett. We were a very large family and together we gathered to celebrate holidays, birthdays, and evenings playing Tripoly. Eventually, it became necessary to rent a church space for Thanksgiving dinners and this gave the kids room to roam, often creating mischief. Bob, Aleta, and I spent much of our time with Gary at these parties.
I remember how much fun Gary was to be around and thinking back, I can see now he reminds me of my dad. Gary liked to put puzzles together, play games, and play jokes on the kids. I spent two years with Gary in the Zion Benton High School Band and the gentle kidding and jokes continued even there. On Thanksgiving, Gary used Grandpa Congdon’s caramels for bingo chips; the bingo game and grandpa’s caramels both a Thanksgiving staple. More memories surface as I recall a time my family was at Eagle River, WI. Gary and I went out on the paddle boat, as we often did, and somewhere along the way I ended up in the water and Gary paddled away. Laughing, he returned and retrieved me, and we were on our way again, laughing.
Gary and I continued to be friends as we married and had daughters the same age. I loved dinners or evenings playing cards with him and Mary Lou. I can remember when their living and dining rooms were surrounded by large salt-water fish tanks; Gary loved tinkering with the finicky fish and their salty water.
I remember the gut-wrenching, painful issues that split the family apart. I know in my heart it was not what Gary wanted but what was necessary for him to do.
I have missed him since moving out of state and he disappeared and have thought often of his well-being. I am glad he was loved. We loved him. I will remember him with love, always.
Cheri Congdon Nielsen
