Gary Michael Dado was born on November 5, 1938 to Michael and Mae (Greene) Dado on their farm in Reeve, Wisconsin. Gary passed away peacefully at home on March 31, 2026. He attended Reeve Country School through grade 8 and graduated from Clear Lake High School. He attended UW-River Falls and obtained a B.S. in agriculture. Gary married Arlene Holmstadt at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Plum City, Wisconsin on August 20, 1960.

Gary and Arlene started their life together farming in Reeve. A few years later, they moved to River Falls, where Gary was a herdsman and student mentor for the university dairy teaching farm for 13 years. They moved to Amery in 1976 with their four children, enjoying life on their family farm for 50 years, raising hogs and beef steers, and working in the fields. While farming, he taught for the dairy herdsman program at WITI in New Richmond for 13 years and later consulted with dairy producers as a nutrition specialist for Land O’ Lakes. He retired in 2002, enabling him to devote his energy to his love of farming.

Gary was very active in his local parish, St. Joseph Catholic Church in Amery. He served as a member of the parish council, was a life-long member of the Knights of Columbus, chaired the annual ice fishing contest, and enjoyed cantoring and singing in the choir. He expressed his love for music through his participation in the diocesan chorale for many years. His time in the chorale gave him the opportunity to travel to Ireland and Rome to sing and praise the Lord.

He loved talking to everyone he met and could always find a way to connect with them, regardless of if he had known them for 50 years or 5 seconds. He enjoyed bowling, traveling, hunting and fishing with family, and volunteer work. He volunteered his time on the Alden town board, Amery Equity Cooperative board, and processing taxes for the elderly through AARP.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents - Michael and Mae (Greene) Dado; son-in-law - Jonathan Otto; granddaughter - Stephanie Lyford; and numerous brothers- and sisters-in-law.

Gary is survived by his wife - Arlene Dado; siblings - Pat (Allen) Gale, Ken (Judy) Dado, Michael (Diane) Dado, and Kathleen (Jeff) Dusek; children - Julie (Glen) Lyford, Rick (Gwen) Dado, Greg Dado (Max Cole), and Gwyn Otto; grandchildren - Karen (Adam) Kryder, Laura (John) Mitchell, Bethany (Travis) Senn, Ethan Dado (Chris Danner), Trent (Mykayla) Dado, Meikah Dado (Mauricio Mondragon), Mykaela (Dominick) Thompson, Andrew (Rebekah) Otto, and Samuel (Macey) Otto; and great grandchildren - Sadie, Conor, and Lucy Mitchell; Cameron, Addison, and Brayden Kryder; Savannah, Campbell, and Eden Senn; Lawrence Jon and Linus Thompson; Jonathan Luke Otto; and Avery Dado. Also surviving are numerous brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.

Gary’s visitation will take place on Friday, April 17, 2026 at Williamson-White Funeral Home from 4:00 - 7:00 pm. His funeral will take place on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Amery at 1:00 pm with a one-hour visitation prior. After the service, lunch will be served at the church hall. Interment at Wagon Landing Cemetery to follow.

Last Update: Apr 08, 2026 9:07 am CDT