Gary S. Bawden, age 78, of Isanti was recieved into God’s presence March 1, 2022. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 P.M. Tuesday, March 15th at Word of Life Church, 10730 University Ave NW, Coon Rapids. A time for visiting will be held one hour prior to the service and light refreshments will follow.
The service will be livestreamed at:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7meNjt7yN59gkATbczu7QQ
On Tuesday, March 1, 2022, Gary Scott Bawden was received into God’s presence where, with a renewed body free of Parkinson’s disease, he continued the eternal life he had received as a young teen by God’s grace and invitation. He passed peacefully, surrounded by his beloved family, and is now and forever present with the Lord. The family extends humble thanks to the Cambridge Walker Methodist Levande leadership and staff, as well as Allina Hospice and later Ecumen Hospice who provided such skilled and compassionate care during Gary’s long illness.
Gary was born September 3, 1943 in Chicago to parents Lawrence (Chic) Bawden and Doris Lillian [Snyder] Bawden. Aside from a semester or two at elementary level in his grandparents’ town of Glidden, Wisconsin, Gary attended 12 years’ schooling in Chicago, graduating from Proviso East High School in June 1961. He worked at Moody’s WMBI radio for a time, took courses in radio and music there, and then relocated to St. Paul where he majored in pastoral studies at St. Paul Bible College for four years. In later years, he picked up courses at Trinity Seminary and Anoka Ramsey Community College.
In his second year at SPBC, he met and married classmate MaryAnn Yvonne Young of rural
Wadena, Minnesota. Two offspring blessed their marriage, Nathan James and Kelly Lynn, as well as a long, untidy list of dogs and cats. They were married 58 1/2 years.
Gary typically held two or more jobs simultaneously throughout his career, including radio announcer at KANO Anoka and a small station in Madison, Wisconsin; furniture and men’s furnishings sales; securities sales and life insurance in which field he achieved the coveted CFRE status; Youth For Christ Director in Racine, Wisconsin; pastor of Minnesota evangelical churches at Foley, Elk River, Marshall, Coon Rapids, Forest Lake, and Stacy; and President and CEO of Midwest Challenge, a Minneapolis drug treatment live-in facility with extensions overseeing a juvenile jail ministry, Outpost Ministries, Ark Books, and Ark Products enterprises. The jail work, now called Arise Ministries, and Outpost, Inc., successfully continue to this day.
His association with these and other academic and community involvements gave Gary many opportunities for international training, ministry, travel, and cultural studies. He toured Pacific
Rim countries, including a Philippine orphanage; Scandinavia; Germany, where he witnessed
the dismantling of the Wall separating West from East Germany; Poland on the day Lech Walesa was elected President; Austria; and six trips to Israel and environs, several as tour director. In later years Gary and Mary Ann toured Ireland and Israel, also cruising to Alaska and Grand Cayman.
A vibrant life force, Gary cultivated active interests in motor vehicles and sports cars, notably a beloved 280Z Nissan: Gold Wing motorcycles: downhill skiing mostly in Colorado: a treasure of a cabin near Pine City; music; fishing; and sailing, both on Minnesota lakes and Florida’s Gulf waters. But by far what brought Gary the most profound joy was the privilege of showing someone their need of a Savior and watching their eyes light up when they came to faith in the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross and in His resurrection, which provides the free gift of everlasting life to all who place their trust in Him. Evangelism was his first calling and Gary was feverish about making the Gospel clear.
His family was his second calling. To MaryAnn’s occasional embarrassment, he broadcast broadly the benefits of his marriage, and made frequent attempts to get all his buddies happily married off. His two children were the joys of his life. If they ever did anything wrong, he was out of town at the time and acknowledged no faults in them. A “brag wall” in their home bearing portraits, name plaques and name meanings of all the children and grandchildren attests to his consuming pleasure in them.
Gary was preceded in death by his devoted mother, father, grandparents Scott and Ann Snyder, grandmother Elizabeth Bawden, an uncle, aunts, cousins, and significant mentors/father figures who nurtured his physical and spiritual growth. Gary will be painfully missed by MaryAnn; Nate and wife Miriam [Ask] Bawden; Kelly [Bawden] Johnson, husband Curt Johnson; grandchildren Brittany [Bawden] and Seth Sammons with one-year-old Reilly Joy, Alyssa [Bawden] and husband Mark Pua, Alex and Abbi [Larson] Bawden, Josiah and Sierra [Becker] Bawden, Andrew Scott Johnson, Kyle Donovan Johnson, Aaron Curtis Johnson, and a host of treasured extended family, friends, coworkers, and parishioners.
Gary’s family extends profound thanks to the many who faithfully upheld us in prayer during his long journey with Parkinson’s Disease. Prayer became a lifeline for us during the hardest days and your gift in that area can never be measured or repaid. We also believe that a difficult disease became far more bearable because of you who prayed. Many offered additional support; again, immeasurable gifts to us.
To MaryAnn and your family we offer our condolences. Gary will be greatly missed. My boys and I truly love the friendship we had with Gary. You and Gary being our neighbors has really greatened our life. From long talks in the gazebo in the back yard, to giving some good life advice on raising children and getting through a divorce, to offering comfort and prayer to our family in rough times, to just enjoying a good laugh, all the way to a warm plate of cookies delivered to our front door. A wonderful friendship we each have cherished.
The Nortons have had the privilege of knowing Gary for decades. A couple of years ago a friend and I stopped by a restaurant in Isanti on a trip to TC. After we ordered our food, in walks Gary with his chaperon. Although he was having trouble recalling who I was and friendship history, he was still the fun, bold Gary Bawden. I considered that chance encounter a special gift of God to see my friend once again. His reward of faithfulness to God is now rewarded. He will be missed, I will pray for the family, but I celebrate his life and praise God for His life. Rev. Kevin L. Norton – Hibbing Alliance Church
MaryAnn and family,
Helen and I offer our condolences on Gary’s passing. I met Gary in 1978 during the Midwest Challenge/Ark Books time frame. I was always impressed and in awe, of Gary’s stature and how he conducted himself. My favorite memory is from 1979-1980 when he told me that one of the Ford dealerships in town had purchased 100 fully loaded Thunderbirds for a car rental company that had filed for bankruptcy. They were stuck with them, so they were practically “giving them away.” Gary urged me to buy one and I did. Of all the cars I have had, it was my favorite. Our prayers are with MaryAnn and her family.
I was just one of hundreds that Gary mentored and encouraged in ministry. He was always “real” and always full of God’s joy. I am blessed to have had him in my life. Well done good and faithful servant!
Condolences to the Bawden family from Punschklubben, a Swedish-American heritage society Gary was a long time member of. Gary was very well known to the member of our monthly pea soup and pancake club. He will be greatly missed.
Dearest MaryAnn, Nate and Kelly,
I just found out about the passing of your beloved Gary … and also my dear friend!
I am sitting here in tears right now as I write this. What a JOY it was to know Gary, and especially YOU MaryAnn! ;-)
I will never forget all our wonderful times together so many years ago at the Burns Ev Free Church! So many fun times and so many laughs!
And to hear you and Gary sing – especially THE KING IS COMING! – and oh so many other songs.
While WE wait for the King to Come, Gary is now with KING JESUS who he faithfully served so many years.
We are the poorer because of his homegoing. But he is MASSIVELY rich right now being with the King!
May God Bless and STRENGTHEN you during this difficult time.
Our Condolences to MaryAnn and the Bawden Family. Paul & Chrissy Fournier
What a wonderful obituary. Even with the pleasure of knowing Gary through somewhat regular social engagements with the New Brighton / Mounds View Rotary, where MaryAnn has a meritorious service history…I am pleased to now know so much more about Gary. Thank you Lord Jesus for this good man, this joyful and loving Christian man who has made our world a better place. Well done, indeed.
Over 60 years ago 4 unlikely guys at SPBC were selected by a Music Staff member (none of us can remember who) to sing in a male quartet . We sang together for SPBC all over the country, and continued singing together whenever we could get together for the rest of our lives. Our quartet of best friends is now a duet with the last two guys hot on the trail of Gary and Dennis. The stories of our traveling days together seem to go on forever…
MaryAnn has always been one of my favorite people and musicians , and I appreciate all of her communication these last tough years.
4 strangers thrown together… all lifelong best friends… all because of music and Jesus ! Go figure!
To MaryAnn and family: Our deepest condolences on the loss of Gary. Both MaryAnn and Gary have had significant impact in my life and ministry at Outpost Ministries since 1989 when I first appeared on the scene there in June. Six months prior, Gary, along iwth the board of Midwest Challenge rescued Outpost from sure financial ruin. Indeed, we have gone on to become the oldest extant ministry of our kind in the history of the world! Gary had a vision for our organization that even folks in our organization did not have. Thanks be to Jesus! Soon after that “friendly take-over,” MaryAnn became our “go to” person for printing our newsletters, a post she held with us until her recent retirement. Our newsletter is in its 45th year of printing, in large part due to MaryAnn’s apt and comprehensive service. Of course, through the years I have met the entire family and extend heartfelt greetings to Nate and Kelly and their families as well.
One key memory, among MANY, has to do with my calling to serve as Executive Director at Outpost in the mid-90s. I reluctantly (sad to say) agreed to accept this calling, unsure of myself and still shamed by my past life. But,, Gary, in his frank and honest way, one day in a frustrating and private conversation with me, really boosted my confidence in what the Lord Jesus was obviously (to him) calling me into. Having nearly completely cleared Outpost’s financial debts, he exclaimed, “Dan! We have given everything we can to you for the success of this ministry! Why haven’t you taken it up and DONE IT?!” His endorsement of me at that moment came as quite a shock to me. But it was solid and he was trustworthy. Now it would be up to me to carry on (with the power of the Holy Spirit, of course). And indeed, even while friends and foes alike have fallen away from the Truth, Outpost has lived on. Thank you Gary for believing in me and in the ministry of Outpost! And thank you, too, MaryAnn, for all your years of incredibly gracious and loving support! And isn’t it interesting that through all these years of association, I never knew Gary was a singer until now?! I, too, traveled all over the country (well, at least from St. Paul Bible College to Vancouver, BC) with a men’s quartet from SPBC! One more thing I never knew we had in common.
I have great memories of riding to Youth for Christ clubs in southwestern Minnesota with Gary in the early 1970s. He and I ate a lot of meals together, prayed and had more fun than most people thought Christians should have.
He was instrumental in getting me involved with YFC and that involvement led to my meeting my wife in Brisbane, Australia on a multi-nation singing tour. In less than 2 months we will celebrate our 49th anniversary.
I look forward to soon seeing Gary again. I still remember Gary and MaryAnn singing at our young people’s conference at Lake Shetek. Absolutely wonderful memories.
You and Gary, MaryAnn, were a dynamic duo by God’s design grounding my family and me in the Word of God through careful teaching, music, and exemplary living at Word of Life Church. You set us on the firm foundation of the Truth that sets us free when we abide in it [John 8:31-32]. Indeed, for my family there have been innumerable failures of our foolish flesh; formidable, fiery trials of our faith; departures, detours, distractions, discouragement, and divisions…but as you and Gary so beautifully, faithfully declared, “through it all, the mountains, the valleys, the storms, we have learned to trust in Jesus, to trust in God, to depend upon His Word”…the “buts” and “afterwards” and “therefores” and “neverthelesses” of Scripture that you taught us have made the difference. Our todays, tomorrows, yes, our eternity are all changed because of God’s ministry through you both! Thank you, thank you!!
I’ve had many tears and sorrows,
I’ve had questions for tomorrow,
there’s been times I didn’t know right from wrong.
But in every situation,
God gave me blessed consolation,
that my trials come to only make me strong.
Through it all,
through it all,
I’ve learned to trust in Jesus,
I’ve learned to trust in God.
Through it all,
through it all,
I’ve learned to depend upon His Word.
I’ve been to lots of places,
I’ve seen a lot of faces,
there’s been times I felt so all alone.
But in my lonely hours,
yes, those precious lonely hours,
Jesus lets me know that I was His own
Through it all,
through it all,
I’ve learned to trust in Jesus,
I’ve learned to trust in God.
Through it all,
through it all,
I’ve learned to depend upon His Word.
I thank God for the mountains,
and I thank Him for the valleys,
I thank Him for the storms He brought me through.
For if I’d never had a problem,
I wouldn’t know God could solve them,
I’d never know what faith in God could do.
In about 1970/1971, I was a secretary for an attorney in Marshall, MN and Gary was working as a claims adjuster for the attorney. Gary would just stop into the office occasionally and one day he mentioned to me that he was the pastor of the Marshall Evangelical Free Church. On that particular day he had a Bible in his hand and he held it up to me and said something to the effect that everything he believed in was contained in the Bible and in the person of Jesus Christ. It was brief. But, about two years later when I was seeking purpose and meaning in my life I recalled Gary Bawden’s words. I decided to attend the his church. He was no longer the pastor, but it was his words that lead me to that church. I became a believer and have attended that church ever since. GOD used him and his words to point me in the right direction. His ministry blessed my life.
We’ve known Gary, Maryann, Nate and Kelly since we were in our teens. You’ve been such good friends and mentors to us. Gary was Stan’s spiritual mentor and closest friend. He will be so missed. But I now can smile when I try to imagine the deep conversations Stan and Gary are engaged in up in heaven. Love you Bawden family. Praying for you.
Thank you Gary for all you did to serve and love Jesus is your time. Pastor Gary did our wedding service in 1995, and did such a beautiful job in delivering a message that was profound and true to the importance of focusing in good times and bad on Jesus. We went to pastor Gary’s various churches growing up. I know my dad is a Christian today because Gary connected with him and shared the word in such an authentic compelling way. He means so much to our family, and our hearts and prayers go out to Mary Ann and the family.
Dear Mary Ann: In talking after church yesterday with your brother Ron and wife Lori, we were saddened to learn of Gary’s recent passing. He meant so much to Tom and I, having had a large role in saving our once floundering marriage. We loved his preaching and singing and followed him at some of the many churches he pastored. No one was better at taking a single Bible verse and turning it into a powerful sermon. We were privileged to have him conduct the marriage ceremonies for both our daughters and loved your whole families musical talents. Gary was fun, relatable, genuine, and a wonderful example of Christianity in action . He lived and shared his faith everyday. We will miss him. Well done, good and faithful servant!