Gary Wayne Kafer, age 77 of Cambridge, Minnesota, died after a long fight with memory issues on Friday, August 7, 2026, at Levande by Vivie Assisted Living in Cambridge. Celebration of Life to be scheduled early fall. Details will be posted when the date is set.
Gary Wayne Kafer was born October 14, 1948, in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Virgil and Marian Kafer. His family lived in Richfield until Gary was 14 years old. They then moved to New Brighton where he attended Mounds View High School, graduating in 1967. He worked at Medtronic back when it was one little 4 story building in St. Anthony. He enlisted in the Navy in 1968, met and married Phyllis (Ann) Clanton. After being discharged from the Navy, they lived in Circle Pines, Minnesota where Stacy was born. After suffering though a few Minnesota winters they relocated to Bradenton, Florida, soon after Natalie was born. A few years later, they divorced and Gary met his second wife, Chrisy (Cristine) McKee, where they finally settled in Cohutta, Georgia and they ran a dog, cat or whatever showed up at their doorstep rescue, for many years. In 2020 he moved to Isanti to live with his brother, Curt and his wife, Jeni. Gary moved into Levande memory care in Cambridge until the end.
He is survived by his daughters, Stacy and her husband, Michael Zimmerman of Lititz, PA., Natalie and her husband, Scott Champayne of Bradenton, Fl.; ex-wife, Phyllis Ann Benjamin of Bradenton, Florida; brothers, Dan and his wife, Cynthia of Redding, CA, brother, Curtis and his wife, Jeanette of Isanti, MN; sister, Melanie and her husband, Daniel of North Branch, MN; grandchildren, Marina, Megan, Michael, Logan and Peyton; great-grandchildren, Melody and Amelia; and by other relatives and friends.
Gary was preceded in death by his second wife, Christine McKee; his father, Virgil; mother, Marian; grandparents, Leonard and Iva Kafer, William and Florence Jarrett; and bother, Russell.
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