Pastor Gary Garnatz, 73, died Monday, April 13, 2026 in his home at Ecumen Lakeshore in Duluth, MN.

Gary was born September 30, 1952, in Preston, MN, to Dallas and Ruth (Stender) Garnatz.

He grew up in Wykoff, MN and Lanesboro, MN. Gary knew he was called to the Lutheran ministry since his childhood, as a preschooler he preached to pets and stuffed animals on the steps of the family home.

He graduated from Lanesboro High School in 1970 and went to Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD, graduating in 1974.  Gary's seminary education was at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN, and he graduated in 1978. He served in four parishes in his 40 years of ministry: Hudson Lutheran Church in Hudson, SD; Faith Lutheran Church in Three Lakes, WI; Colfax Rural Lutheran Parish in Colfax, WI (Holden, Norton, and North Running Valley Lutheran Churches); Bethel Lutheran Church in Superior, WI. His faith and family were priorities for him.

Gary and Faith met at college and married during college in 1973.

He was an avid gardener and an outstanding cook. Gary read up to five novels in a week and looked forward to reading more in his retirement.  His health decline had prevented his reading in retirement.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Roger and Myron.

Gary is survived by his wife, Faith; his sons, Jacob (Lindsey) of DeKalb, IL; Benjamin (Cassie) of Burlington, WI; and Andrew (Brette) of Duluth, MN; his granddaughters, Raegan and Isabell Garnatz.

Blessed be his memory.

In lieu of flowers, direct memorials in Gary's name to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 219 N. 6th Ave. E., Duluth, MN 55805 or the Duluth Community Garden Program, PO Box 3158, Duluth, MN 55803.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 am until the 11:00 am Funeral Service on Friday, April 17, 2026, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 219 N. 6th Ave. E., Duluth, MN, with Pastor David Carlson officiating.  Inurnment will be at Holden Lutheran Church Cemetery in Colfax, WI, at a later date.