Gary Carr

Gary B. Carr was born in Breckenridge, MN on October 29, 1929 to Theodore and Regina (Simmer) Carr.  He was mostly raised in his maternal family’s home town of Wahpeton, ND. Known in his high school and early college years for many accomplishments in football and boxing, his name can be found in the sports hall of fame of the North Dakota State College of Science, in Wahpeton. Gary later enlisted in the Air Force and spent his years in service at Warren AF Base in Cheyenne, WY. While there, he became somewhat of a local sports hero, boxing for the Warren AFB team. After his military service, Gary finished his bachelor’s degree and received a teaching certificate from Northern State College, in Aberdeen, SD. Later, he received Master’s and Six Year Specialist’s degrees in secondary education from NDSU in Fargo, ND.

After teaching and coaching in Eureka, SD, and Battle Lake, MN, Gary returned to his home town of Wahpeton, gaining experience as assistant principal for a year at Central Junior High, then spent a year as high school principal in Ellendale, ND. In the fall of 1968, he took the reins as principal at Wahpeton High School, replacing the retiring Alvin Hans, who had been the principal when Gary graduated from Wahpeton High in 1948. He stayed in that position through spring of 1972, then moved on to be principal at Northland High School in Remer, MN. After a decade there, Gary became principal at the high school in Dilworth, MN, where he remained until his first retirement at age 63. A few years later he came out of retirement and became principal at Battle Lake High School for a couple of years before retiring for good to his hobby farm in Ottertail, MN. For most of the last decade he had resided once again in Battle Lake, MN.

Gary is survived by two adult sons, five adult stepchildren, a number of grandchildren, and thousands of former students who remember him as a firm but fair high school principal that genuinely cared about the welfare of his students.

Gary died Tuesday, April 23, 2019.

Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. followed by the funeral service at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, April 29 at Schoeneberger Funeral & Cremation Service in Perham, MN. Lunch and fellowship will follow the funeral service at the funeral home. Burial will be in Union Cemetery near Ottertail, MN.

Schoeneberger Funeral & Cremation Service, Perham, MN (218) 346-5175 www.schoenebergerfh.com

Gary's Memorial Folder