Gary Stimmler, 1936-2023

MGA

Gary D. Stimmler, 86, of Fridley, Minn., passed away Jan. 13. Born on January 22, 1936, a day that holds the Minnesota record for windchill at -67 degrees, he would attend St. Bridget Catholic School and later DeLaSalle High School, graduating in 1953. Stimmler’s passion for golf started with his first job caddieing at Golden Valley Country Club and continued by serving the Minnesota Golf Association as a course rater from 1996-2015. He was responsible for planning and coordinating the rating team’s course visits across the state each year and rated several hundred courses during his tenure. Stimmler also served as the Minnesota Public Golf Association (MPGA) President in 1996 and 1997 and furthered the relationship between the MGA and MPGA by creating a MPGA liaison position within the MGA and served in that role from 1998-2004. Some of his favorite golf memories were volunteering for PGA Tour tournaments that were conducted in the Twin Cities. 

An avid golfer, Stimmler was just a few states shy of playing in all 50 United States. Following his graduation from DeLaSalle, he enlisted in the Army in 1954 and served as a radio operator until 1956, including a posting to Japan. After his service, Stimmler worked for Prudential Insurance Co., where he met his future wife, Barbara Holmes. He later worked for Honeywell and as a computer analyst utilizing an early version of the Cray computer. Once retired, he spent his winters in Florida and then Arizona which allowed him to enjoy the outdoors and golf. Stimmler was an avid reader and enjoyed classical music, puzzles, travel, playing cards, horse racing, hiking, skating, and coaching hockey. Growing up, he loved to hunt and fish with his family and especially loved nature and visits to National Parks and Civil War battlefields. He is survived by five children Cynthia, Sheryl, Patti, Steven and David, and ten grandchildren and great-grandchildren.