Gary Fox

Gary Fox passed away peacefully on February 13, 2026, at the age of 81 with his family by his side.

Gary was born on September 15, 1944, in Dayton, Ohio, to Edward and Marion (Fritzinger) Fox. He was raised in Hastings MN and graduated from Hastings Senior High in 1962. He grew up with a strong sense of family, faith, and responsibility—values that guided him throughout his life. He began his lifelong career at 18 years old as a Telephone Field Technician, beginning with United Telephone Company and continuing through its transition to CenturyLink. He was also in the Army Reserves. He met and married the love of his life Marie Shear on April 23rd, 1966, at St Boniface Church in Hastings. Together they welcomed their daughter Mandy in 1968, Teresa in 1971 and Steven in 1972 and raised them in Hastings. Their marriage, rooted in devotion and strengthened by their shared Catholic faith, became the foundation of a warm and loving home.

He and Marie retired and moved to Hinckley and eventually Wrenshall MN. Gary received a new title in 2002 as Papa to his first grandson Leo. Nana and Papa would make weekly trips down to the cities to visit with family, always center of thevisit was Leo. In 2004 he became a Papa to his second grandson Max. Their weekly travels and wanting to be closer to the grandsons led them to move back to the cities eventually coming back to Hastings.

Gary enjoyed traveling with Marie to the Apostle Islands, Las Vegas, Florida, Alaska, and their once in a lifetime trip to Italy in 2009. Gary was the introvert and shy with Marie being the extrovert. So together with her always by his side he sortof lived that “extrovert” life. He would get all the conversations and good stuff with Marie doing most of the talking. He and Marie were active members of the YMCA. Gary was a kind, generous and loving husband, father and Papa. His family came first always and was always available for help and support in all his children’s lives. He truly believed in always doing the right thing, being honest and a good neighbor. A man of quiet strength, steady kindness, and unwavering Catholic devotion, Gary lived his values every day. He will be remembered for his gentle spirit, his dedication to those he loved, and the example he set through a life lived with humility and grace.

He was preceded in death by his wife Marie, parents Edward and Marion, sister in laws, Christine Fox, Deborah Shear and Betsy Shear. He is survived by daughters Mandy (Julie) Fox and Teresa (Mike) Praska and son Steven (Penny) Fox, grandsons Leo and Max Fox and Tucker Praska, brother Wally Fox and sister Joanne Knoll (Jerry) along with many nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, February 23, 2026 at 12 noon at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Church with visitation starting at 10:30. Private family interment will be in Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Cemetery. Arrangements are with Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel.