Gary Dell Wenick, 73, passed away from cancer July 3 at his home in Hines.

Gary was born Feb. 10, 1946, at Valley View Hospital in Burns. He was the son of Emanuel and Martha (Schmidt) Wenick.  Gary grew up in Burns and graduated from Burns Union High School in 1964. He was drafted into the U.S. Marine Corps in 1966, and served his country in Vietnam. He married Muriel Nelson in 1968, and they celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary in March.

Gary worked for Wooster Construction after returning from the service, then fine-tuned his concrete skills while living and working in Spokane, Wash., shortly after his marriage. After moving back to Burns in the late fall of 1969, he joined the logging industry for several years as a log truck driver and a loader operator. He became a general manager for Deschutes Ready Mix, then Harney Rock and Paving, before going into business for himself as a contractor, specializing in concrete work. Gary was a master in the science of concrete finishing, from mix design to the finishing touches and everything in between.

Gary loved animals, especially dogs, and was a favorite of many dogs around town because he always carried dog biscuits in his pocket and work pickup. He was a strong swimmer and enjoyed spending weekends fishing, camping, boating, and water skiing. He taught countless kids in Harney County how to water ski. He passed on his love of the water to his children and grandchildren, who have wonderful memories of camping and water activities at Warm Springs Reservoir, Falls Camp, Yellow Jacket, Bully Creek, and Owyhee and Prineville reservoirs.  He felt it was his duty to haul out his SCUBA gear and lend a hand at underwater body recovery when tragedy struck. Gary was a good golfer, and never being one for moderation, was known to golf up to 45 holes in one day. When he was younger, he enjoyed riding and racing dirt bikes. He then graduated to a Harley Davidson. He was a reader, never going anywhere without a couple of books. He loved spending time in the woods, which he knew like the back of his hand due to his logging days. He had a passion for cooking and loved sharing his smoked ribs, chicken, and brisket with his friends and family. He even cooked for a couple weddings and, most recently, a high school graduation celebration. He loved traveling to watch his grandkids participate in their various sporting events. He was their biggest fan.

Gary is survived by his sister, Jeanne (Bill) Foster; daughter, Shala (David) Lebeck; son, Jess (Maria) Wenick; grandchildren, Kaytlyn Lebeck, Madalyn Lebeck, Jacqueline Wenick, and Matias Wenick; and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life was held at Faith Baptist Church in Burns on July 13.

Gary loved the Lord, his family, and his friends. He also loved Harney County, its people, and its history. He called Harney County “God’s country.”