Rev. Gary M. Wees

Rev. Gary Milbert Wees, 72, of Pine Island, MN passed away at Pine Haven Care Center on February 21st, 2021. The funeral for Rev. Wees will be 1pm Monday, March 8th, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Pine Island, MN with the Rev. Chris Miller and Rev. Matthew Hausken co-officiating. Due to COVID, there will be limited seating and the ceremony will be live streamed. A link can be found at Mahn Funeral Home’s Facebook page. A visitation will be held at Mahn Family Funeral Home-Mahler Chapel in Pine Island, MN, on Sunday, March 7th from 2-4pm. Those attending the visitation or funeral in person will be required to wear masks and socially distance. Burial will be in Pine Island Cemetery.

Gary was born in Red Wing, MN on August 18th, 1948 to Gerald D. Wees and Alyce M. Wees. He was active in the drama department and graduated from Pine Island High School in 1966. Gary married Rebecca Lee Jasperson September 25th, 1966 and together they had four children. He worked for Arne Gathje Homes, Pako film, Environmental Services for Mounds View High School, owned his own business with his brother-in-law Jeff, and worked for the Boy Scouts of America as camp director in Nevis, MN. He received his B.A. at Northwestern College in Roseville, MN and his Master of Divinity at Luther Seminary in Roseville, MN and completed an internship at Bethel Lutheran Church in Phoenix, AZ. He served at the following churches: St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Evan, MN; Bethany Lutheran Church in Morgan, MN and Utica and Mt. Sterling Lutheran in Mt. Sterling, WI. After retiring he served as a visitation pastor at Our Savior’s Lutheran in Lacrosse, WI. Gary loved community theater in both Sleepy Eye and Pine Island, MN and was active in the Lions and Jaycees clubs. He was also a member of the men’s Luren Singing Society in Decorah, IA.  He enjoyed teaching adult education and leading youth ministry. His hobbies included astronomy, coin collecting and spending time with his family at their cabin in Nevis, MN.

Gary is survived by his wife, Rebecca “Becky” Lee Jasperson Wees, sons Matthew (Carrie) of Apple Valley, MN; Christopher (Kimberly) of Minnetonka; Andrew (Kristy) of Waconia and Joshua (Melanie) of Rochester, MN; eight grandchildren; his sister, Bonnie (Mike) Oelkers; his half-brother Mike (Kari) Wees; brother-in-law Jeff (Kathy) Jasperson; father-in-law, Roland Shanks and a number of nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his mother, father, stepfather, stepmother, mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother, infant sister and nephew.

Memorial donations may be made in Gary’s name to St. Paul Lutheran, Mayo Hospice, or Pine Haven.