Gary Hardy

We are saddened that Gary Hardy unexpectedly passed away on February 17, 2025. He will be missed by so many. We will love and remember him as strong and funny, always willing to help everyone at any time, whether that was with a furnace, plumbing, cars, or really anything that needed fixing, he was the guy. He was a very proud Dad and Grandpa who loved God and his family.

Gary Francis Hardy was born on October 24, 1943, in Milaca Minnesota, to C. Francis and Mildred Hardy. He grew up in Milaca, attended Milaca High School and later Staples Vocational School.

He married Jeanette Nichols on December 8, 1962, in Staples, Minnesota.

Gary’s work life included jobs in which he used his skills as a mechanic and overall jack-of-all-trades. He worked as a foreman at Whirlpool Corp. in St. Paul, MN. He then moved to Foreston, MN, where he was the service/repair person at Koch Hardware (now in Milaca) for many years. After that he had his own business, Hardy Repair, while also farming an 80-acre dairy farm near Milaca. His last employment, before retirement, was handling maintenance for Gorecki Manufacturing.

Gary was known for his ability to fix just about anything; he particularly enjoyed fabrication, welding, and working on demolition derby cars and race cars for his sons and many others. Gary enjoyed working on the cars as well as driving his own street stock at Princeton Speedway.

He was a lifelong member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Milaca.

One of his greatest joys was attending his grandchildren’s sporting events and musical performances.

Gary is survived by his three children Brenda Pearson, Patrick (Tricia) Hardy, and Eric (Jill) Hardy; grandchildren Braden, Treyton, Jaxsen, and Abigail; siblings Barbara (Jerry) Holznagel, David (Gina) Hardy, Denis Hardy, Linda Gilder, Donna (Joe) Lemmon, Sandy Hardy and their families, as well as many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, C. Francis and Mildred and nephew Todd Hardy.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at 2 PM at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Milaca.  Interment will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery.  Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.