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Gary Wayne Kubly

1943 - 2012

Gary Kubly
November 12, 1943 - March 6, 2012

Gary Wayne Kubly was born November 12, 1943, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, the son of Leonard and LaVon Kubly. He passed away March 2, 2012, at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota. Gary was baptized at Rosendale Lutheran Church of rural St. James, Minnesota, and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Clear Lake, Iowa.

He graduated from high school in Ventura, Iowa. Gary continued his education at Mankato State University. After graduation in 1966, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he served his country until his honorable discharge in 1968.

He then taught science in Texas for two years. While in Texas, Gary met Patricia Fenlon. The couple was married on February 20, 1970. Later that year, Gary entered Luther Theological Seminary, receiving his Master of Divinity in 1974. Gary answered a call to serve as pastor for Our Saviors Lutheran of Dovray and Willow Lake Lutheran of rural Tracy, Minnesota. His next call was to Granite Falls Lutheran Church. He then served as Rural Life Coordinator for the Lutheran Churches of Minnesota, followed by St. Lucas and Israel Lutheran Churches of rural Cottonwood and Clarkfield.

In 1996, Gary was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives, and in 2002, he was elected to the Minnesota Senate. During this time, he continued to act as interim pastor for several rural churches.

Gary is survived by his wife, Pat; their children, Matthew Kubly of Granite Falls, Andrew (Janet) Kubly of Crystal, and Erin (Steve) Rodgers of New Brighton; grandchildren Kaia, Joseph, Avery, Sadie and Nathan; mother, LaVon Kubly of Roseville; brother, Ron Kubly of Sherman, Texas; sister, Deanne (Alan Howard) Kubly of Oakdale; Pat's mother, Claire Fenlon Stringer of Olivia; and sister-in-law, Barbara Fenlon of San Antonio, Texas. He was preceded in death by his father, Leonard Kubly; father-in-law, Peter Fenlon; and brother-in-law, John Fenlon.

source: Wing-Bain Funeral Home, 418 North Fifth Street, P O Box 157, Montevideo, MN 56265, 320-269-8425

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Minn. Sen. Gary Kubly dies after battle with ALS-

ST. PAUL, Minn. - State Sen. Gary Kubly, a Lutheran minister who served in the Minnesota House and Senate for 16 years, has died after a battle with ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease. He was 68.

Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk sent a note Saturday informing lawmakers of Kubly's death Friday. Kubly, DFL-Granite Falls, had been hospitalized at a St. Paul hospital since Wednesday after suffering cardiac-like symptoms.

Bakk spokesman Amos Briggs said the senator learned of his colleague's death from Kubly's family, who authorized the note before it was released.

In it, Bakk described Kubly as caring person and skilled legislator who served with dignity and respect.

"He worked hard. He was honest. He shared credit even when he was the one who did the heavy lifting," Bakk wrote. "To Gary Kubly, it simply did not matter where you came from, only where you ended up."

Kubly served three terms in the House, starting in 1996. He then switched to the state Senate in 2002 and was re-elected in 2006 and 2010.

He was diagnosed last year with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis -- ALS -- a neurological disorder that kills nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Kubly began to use a walker, and as his voice weakened he began using an iPad to communicate.

Gov. Mark Dayton extended his condolences to Kubly's wife and three children.

"Gary was a dedicated public servant and an outstanding leader," Dayton said in a statement. "He lived his life with quiet strength and principled dignity, as evidenced by the remarkable courage with which he faced his final illness. He is an inspiration to all of us, who knew and worked with him."

Kubly grew up on an Iowa farm and served in the Air Force, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. He met his future wife, Pat, while they were teaching in Texas.

The couple moved to Minnesota, where Gary Kubly attended Luther Seminary in St. Paul. He served as pastor at two churches in his rural district, ending his full-time pastor job when he won his House race.

"The original reason he ran for office was to keep rural issues on the front burner," Pat Kubly told the Star Tribune in January. "His initial area of concern were the large, industrial feedlots in Renville County."

He worked on legislation that involving feedlot safety and odor problems, and also worked to ensure tax burdens didn't fall disproportionately on rural communities, she said.

"He's always said his favorite part of the job is solving problems for his constituents," his wife said.

Two months ago, a reporter asked Kubly what he was most proud of during his time in the Legislature.

"The work I have done to reach out to both sides," he replied. "You treat people with respect because you might need them later."

Copyright © 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved

source: Minnesota Public Radio, MPRnews, 480 Cedar Street, Saint Paul, MN 55101, 651-290-1500; newsroom@mpr.org

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