Gary Emil Salo

Gary Emil Salo, age 77, of Rudyard, Michigan, died on May 13, 2018, at his home surrounded by his family. He was born on May 24, 1940, in Rudyard to Toivo Henry and Lempi Elise (Hakola) Salo. Gary grew up in Rudyard and graduated from Rudyard High School. He moved to Florida and was working in roofing. He wrote a letter to Mary Ann Leach, which was the start to a new beginning. He moved back to Rudyard and they married on February 10, 1962. They started their family, raising five children. He operated a concrete truck for various construction projects on the Air Force Base and farmed on the family farm. Gary started building their forever home in 1975. He later worked as a mechanic for UPS and owned the Shell Station for three years. Gary then joined the Chippewa County Road Commission and worked for over nineteen years before retiring in 2002. Gary was a member of the St. James Lutheran Church in Rudyard, was Rudyard Township Supervisor, and he was a volunteer firefighter for twenty years and volunteer EMT. He was also a Future Farmers Association member and was fire guard in Kinross, Michigan. Gary enjoyed hunting and spending time at Hamasko Camp. He loved to be in the garden, growing both flowers and vegetables. Gary was very handy and could fix or build anything. He never sat still and always had to be doing something. Gary is survived by his wife, Mary Ann Salo of Rudyard; children, Troy (Beth) Salo of Kinross, Tanya (Kevin) Hesselink of Gaylord, Michigan, Tammi (Cecil) Hinton of Kinross, Terin (Kristine) Salo of Dafter, and Todd (Julie) Salo of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan; grandchildren, Jenna (Tom) Tomaszewski, Jayden Hesselink, Janelle Hesslink, Jelina (Andrew) Wright, Joshua Hinton, Jessica (Travis) Hinton, Elden (Marlee) Salo, Ilsa (Brett) VanSloten, Trenton Salo, Davin (Jillian) Salo, and Caleb Salo; great-grandchildren, Addison, Emmet, Hadlee, Riley, Emma, and Myles; and brother, Ray Salo of Sault Ste. Marie. Gary is preceded in death by his parents; daughter-in-law, Sheri Salo; sister and brother-in law, Darlene and Edward Dowd; and sister-in-law, Lora Salo. Visitation will be held on May 18, 2018, from 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. at R. Galer Funeral Home, 24549 S. M-129 in Pickford, Michigan. Funeral Services will follow, beginning at 6:00 P.M. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. James Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 156, Rudyard, MI 49780 or Hospice of the E.U.P, 308 W. 12th Ave., Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783 Condolences may be sent to the family at www.rgalerfuneralhome.com.

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Gary Emil Salo

May 24, 1940 - May 13, 2018