George H. Gard Jr., 86, Stevens Point, a noted local artist,
died Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, at Ministry St. Clare’s Hospital in Weston.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct., 7,
at Boston Funeral Home in Stevens Point. Burial will be in Forest Cemetery at a
later date.

Visitation will be at the funeral home from noon Friday
until the service.

Memorials may be made in his name to the Alzheimer’s
Association.

Condolences may be offered online at
www.bostonfuneralhome.net.

Mr. Gard was born Feb. 21, 1930, in Lebanon, Mo., a son of
the late Donald and Avida (Himmel) Gard. At the age of 2, following his
mother’s death, he moved to Fergus Falls, Minn., to live with his grandparents,
George and Julia Gard. He attended the local schools there and graduated from Washington
High School in 1948.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army Jan. 16,
1951, served as a supply sergeant in Korea and was honorably discharged Sept.
21, 1952.

Following service, he attended North Dakota State
University. He graduated in 1957 with a major in zoology and minors in botany
and entomology.

He was married to Elaine Way May 24, 1953, at Congregational
Church in Hancock, Minn.

He was employed as a biologist with the Department of
Interior in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He also designed and
illustrated several federal publications.

He retired in 1981 after assisting wildlife refuges in North
Dakota, Minnesota and Michigan and being involved in the wetlands program in
Fergus Falls, Minn., and Stevens Point.

Following retirement, he taught several art classes in his
free time. Every fall for about 10 years, he taught a two-week art course at an
elder hostel in northern Wisconsin owned by the University of Wisconsin-Stevens
Point. He spent 20-plus years working on projects that involved portraits of
inductees into the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame and portrait posters of
chairpersons for United Way.

He was also a musician, playing various instruments for 30
years with the Grenadier Band at the Senior Center.

Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Elaine; three children,
Paul (Brenda) Gard, Waupaca, Gail (Dave) Custer, Faribault, Minn., and Linda
(Paul) Hammerschmidt, Custer; one brother; two sisters; nine grandchildren; and
six great-grandchildren.

He was also preceded in death by his grandparents and one
sister.