Gary Fredrick Nilmeier

Gary Nilmeier died of kidney failure on February 7, 2026, at the age of 87.

Born in Fresno, California, Gary grew up in rural Fresno county. He attended Washington Union High School and Fresno State College, earning a bachelor’s degree in art.

In 1959, he married Mary DiLeo. The couple were married for 66 years and had three children. Soon after the birth of their first child, Gary began his long career with McClatchy Newspapers; first as an artist for the Fresno Bee, and later as Art Director at the Sacramento Bee. In 1979, the family relocated from Fresno to Carmichael. After Gary’s retirement in 1996, he and Mary moved to the Lake of the Pines community in Auburn, California.

Gary was a loving and loyal husband, father, grandfather, and friend. Before his wife, Mary, was placed in hospice care, Gary was a devoted caregiver. Gary will be remembered for his artistic talent, quiet strength, humility, and his dry sense of humor. He loved outdoor activities, especially fishing and golf, and delighted his friends and family with the food he prepared on his outdoor grill. He was also an exceptional photographer, beautifully capturing his family members and friends in candid moments.

Preceded in death by his wife, Mary, his parents, Ruth and Alexander Nilmeier, and his brother, Larry Nilmeier, Gary is survived by his children, Lisa Derthick (Thomas), Lori Rasor (Richard), and Timothy Nilmeier, three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and his sister, Marilyn McDonald.

A private celebration of life will be held at a later time.