Gary M Nestor

Gary M. Nestor, age 78, of Alexandria and formerly of Glenwood, died Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at Diamond Willow Assisted Living in Alexandria, MN. A private family service will be held. Inurnment will take place later this spring at Glenwood Lutheran Cemetery in the Aune family plot, next to his parents. Arrangements are with the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home of Glenwood.

Gary Michael Nestor was born May 10, 1944, to his mother, Ruth (Benson) Nestor, in Glenwood, MN, while his father, Robert “Bob” W. Nestor, was in the South Pacific during World War II. After the war, the three of them made their home in Point Pleasant, Ohio, where Bob was stationed. After Bob’s honorable discharge, the family moved to Columbus, Ohio, where in 1948, his only sibling, a brother, Steve, was born. In 1952, the family moved to West Virginia where they lived for two years before moving back to Columbus.

Gary’s parents, both originally from Minnesota, yearned to be back in the Gopher State so, in late 1956, the family moved to Edina. During the summers of 1958 and ‘59, they built a summer home on Lake Minnewaska near Glenwood and eventually, after begging their dad, Gary and Steve convinced Bob to move his business to Glenwood and live there year round. That made them 5th generation Glenwoodites! Gary's great-great grandfather and great grandfather came to Glenwood in 1881.

Gary was a member of the Glenwood High School Class of 1962. He participated in speech, newspaper staff, annual staff, the class play, golf and football. After graduation, he went on to further his education at the University of Minnesota. In the summer of 1965, Gary got married. He and his wife made their home in Glenwood where Gary worked for his father. Their two sons, Kyle and Chad, were born in 1967 and 1969 in Glenwood making them the 6th generation!

In the early 1970’s, Gary and his family moved to St. Cloud where he was employed at Fingerhut. A promotion at Fingerhut's subsidiary, Baker Rhodes, brought the family to Hopkins. Later, Gary worked as a supervisor at a workshop for special needs adults. In 1974, Gary returned to Glenwood to work with family in various businesses. He attended Alexandria Technical College for accounting and was on the Dean’s list every term.

Gary loved to fish and could be found many evenings and on weekends when not working at the “wall” at the Fish Hatchery in Long Beach, on Lake Minnewaska, casting a lure and catching a meal or two.

In his late 50’s and early 60’s, after years of struggling with Alcoholism, Gary began to face serious health issues. Despite numerous attempts to rid the perpetual habit, it eventually led to his inability to work and by 2007 he was overcome with Alcoholic dementia. This led to him being placed in a retirement home at the age of 63, and later a group home, and finally assisted living. Recent advanced dementia conditions led to hospice care and his passing on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at Diamond Willow Assisted Living in Alexandria, MN.

The family would like to sincerely thank the Presbyterian Family Foundation for being Gary’s guardian the past 15 years.

Gary is survived by his son, Kyle (Sarah) Nestor of Glenwood and their children, Riley, Conner and Tanner, as well as his son, Chad Nestor of St. Paul, and his brother, Steve (Araura) Nestor of Glenwood.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Ruth; maternal grandparents, Dr. Ingram S. and Grace Benson also of Glenwood; and Albert and Anne Marie (Baalson) Nestor of Minneapolis.

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