Gary Francis Donahue

Published December 29, 2020 at 10:14 AM

Gary Francis Donahue of Heron Lake, MN, age 70, passed away on Saturday, December 26, 2020, at the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD. Gary was born on January 10, 1950, to Harold and Gertrude (Finke) Donahue of Kinbrae, MN. Gary grew up on the family farm. He graduated from Fulda High School in Fulda, MN in 1968.

Gary enlisted in the Air Force in 1968. He served his country from 1968 - 1972. He was in Cam Ranh Bay; Viet Nam from 1969 - 1970 working as an airplane mechanic on C-7A Caribou airplanes. One of Gary’s dreams was to see his Caribou airplane in person at an Air Force Museum in Connecticut.

He returned home to Minnesota after the Air Force and attended college in Worthington for a couple years. Then he started working for the railroad in 1975 and retired from there after 39 years of service.

Gary loved working on projects in his garage. He also loved target shooting and going prairie dog hunting in South Dakota. He also loved reading and spent many hours on his computer.

He is survived by three sisters - Janet (Dennis) Hohensee of Zephyrhills, FL; Pam (Jack) Montague of Andover, MN; and Debb (Roger) Larsen of Madison, MN; and one nephew and five nieces.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Karen Wieneke, and one brother-in-law, Marvin Wieneke.

Services will be held at a later date.

Benson Funeral Home in Worthington is in charge of the arrangements.