Gary Vernon Heesch passed away peacefully on May 12, 2022, surrounded by his children.

Gary was born August 20, 1936, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. As a teenager, his family moved to Portland, Oregon, where he lived until enlisting in the US Air Force at the tender age of 17. After four years of military service in Germany, he served a three-year religious mission in the Four Corners region with the Navajo (Diné) and Hopi tribes. He carried a lifelong love for the German and Diné languages and people.

Gary attended Brigham Young University, where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and made many lifelong friends. He and his first wife, Carol Lee, were married in 1962. Together they raised seven children across California, Oregon and Utah. Gary became a medical researcher and developer, and lived with a passion for improving people’s lives.

He will be remembered as a wonderful son, brother, patriot, missionary, husband, father and friend. He loved God, Jesus Christ and his family. He was loyal, kind and unselfish—his heart always put others before himself. Gary lived a life of joy, adventure, sadness and service.

Nature was his playground. Side Lake, Minnesota was his fairy land. Family was his love. His children were his everything.

We miss you, Gary—you will be remembered.