Gary Dennis Robbins, age 80, of Amery, Wisconsin, passed away unexpectedly on September 27, 2026, in Amery.

Gary was born April 9, 1946, in Marshall, Minnesota, to Benjamin Myron Robbins and Eunice Esther (Moon) Robbins.

Gary grew up near Milltown, Wisconsin, and graduated from Unity High School in Balsam Lake. After high school, Gary proudly served his country in the United States Navy, serving on active duty from February 12, 1965, until his honorable discharge on January 5, 1970. He served as a Navy corpsman, and the medical training he received during his military service helped shape the next chapter of his life. During this time his daughter, Tracy, from a previous marriage was born.

Following his time in the Navy, Gary moved to Minneapolis, where he worked as a respiratory therapist at Eitel Hospital. It was there that he met Judy Miller, an LPN, and her young daughter, Mona Lee, whom Gary would later adopt as his daughter. Gary and Judy married in the early 1970s and eventually made their home in Amery, Wisconsin.

The family of three initially rented a farmhouse near Amery before settling on a 55-acre hobby farm in approximately 1976. The farm remained an important part of Gary's life and his family's life for more than four decades. In 2019, Gary sold the farm and moved into the city of Amery.

Gary spent more than 40 years working at Amery Hospital, beginning his career in respiratory therapy and eventually becoming head of the Amery Hospital’s purchasing department, as the materials manager. Over those many years, he developed lasting friendships with coworkers and became a familiar and valued part of the hospital community.

Although Gary and Judy later divorced, they remained remarkably close and he continued caring for her until her death from COVID-19 on May 1, 2021.

Faith and service were also important parts of Gary's life. He was an active member of East Lincoln Church, where he served as a deacon and participated in and led multiple committees. He also helped sponsor a men's Bible study, through which he developed many close friendships with men he considered Christian brothers.

Gary was a very Christian man and devoted his later life to Christ. He was also very social, and many people described him as charming. He loved to tell stories, had a wonderful sense of humor, and genuinely enjoyed being around people. Over the course of his life, Gary grew into a deeply thoughtful, caring, and supportive man. Those who knew him in his later years knew someone who was patient, wise, generous, fun, and kind.

He was especially generous with his time. Gary was the kind of person who would mow someone's lawn, lend a hand with a project, run an errand, or help however he could. He found meaning in being useful to others and was always looking for ways to be of service. That generosity of spirit became one of the qualities that most clearly defined him.

Gary is survived by his daughters, Mona Robbins and Tracy McBride; his grandson, Haydn McBride; his brother, Kevin Robbins, his siter-in-law, Denise (Bengtson) Robbins ; his sisters, Bonnie Schultz and Patty Robbins; and many nieces, nephews, extended family members, friends, neighbors, and members of his church family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Benjamin Myron Robbins and Eunice Esther (Moon) Robbins; his sister, Sherry (Robbins) Ditsch; and his former wife and longtime friend, Judy Ann (Miller) Robbins.

Gary died unexpectedly on September 27, 2026, after being struck by a vehicle while walking home from the grocery store.

His family and friends will remember a man whose life was marked by service to his country, decades of dedication to his work, devotion to family, Christian faith, friendship, humor, generosity, and a willingness to show up when someone needed him.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, October 9, 2026 at East Lincoln Church in Amery, WI with a visitation one hour prior. A social gathering will follow with refreshments and some of Gary’s favorite foods.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a memorial contribution are invited to plant a tree or donate to Gary's church family at East Lincoln Church in support of its continuing mission.