Gary Gilder

Gary Gilder The eternal love of God embraced him and lifted him into the light. Gary Wayne Gilder was born April 30, 1948 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. At age 10 months, he was adopted by his parents, Charles and Florence Gilder, whom he always considered his true parents. He attended school in Vancouver until age 9, when his family moved to Blaine, Washington. He continued his schooling in Blaine and completed his studies at the University of Washington with an MBA. In 1973, he moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, to work for the Burlington Northern Railroad. While in Minnesota, he continued his love of running, participating is numerous events and completing Grandma’s Marathon in 1981. He also developed his love of travel, visiting Russia, Greece, and especially enjoyed France, its culture and language. To maintain his link to France and the French people, he arduously studied the language with a tutor. He loved long distance bicycle touring, experiencing a oneness with nature, and was also the volunteer youth group leader at his church. In 1985 he married Barbara Wiley and her two children, Jack and Justin. They moved to Fargo in 1987 when Gary took a job at Fargo Clinic to develop information systems for their business and patients. After 7 years, he became CIO at Scott and White Clinic in Temple, Texas, for one year, then he and Barbara decided to take an early retirement. He became a Master Gardener in 1996, volunteering at the NDSU youth gardens for the next 20 years. His love of learning and adventure continued with Barbara, bicycle touring almost every September to a new destination, including British Columbia, the Gulf and San Juan Islands, around Lake Michigan, and several times to Quebec and France. To continue his love of the French language, he became actively involved with Francofun, a community of French speakers in the FM area. He continued his running and began to study and practice yoga, successfully completing 200 hours of coursework for his Yoga Certification Program in December 2018. Gary also loved the time had with family, being with his grandchildren, and caring for his parents throughout their later years. In October 2013, he began what was to become a 6 ½ year journey with lymphoma. He chose to view it as another adventure through life, participating eagerly in any promising treatment or clinical trial. He lost his left leg to lymphoma in 2017 and continued forward with a new purpose. Throughout, he was an inspiration to all he met, until, on May 20, 2020, when he passed away. Gary is survived by his wife, Barbara. Also surviving are sons Jack Wiley (Carmen), and grandchildren Jason and Chloe of Spokane, WA; and Justin Wiley (Sally) and granddaughters, Dayna, Merill and Terra , of Fargo. His sister Barb from Bellingham, WA also survives as do her three children and her 5 grandchildren. Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Florence Gilder and his brother Allan.