Gary R. Pond

Gary Robert Pond was born November 1, 1952, in Rice Lake, WI, to Robert and Dorothy (Freund) Pond. He attended Two Harbors High School in Two Harbors, MN. He then completed the bakery program at North Mankato Tech where he met Patricia Dudding of Buffalo Center, IA.
On December 15, 1973, he and Pat were married in Ledyard, IA. In 1975, they made their home in South Dakota, where Gary worked in bakeries in Madison, SD and Watertown, SD. In 1984, they purchased Sokolls bakery in Watertown changing the name to Pond's Bakery. They operated the bakery together for nearly 30 years until 2013. They raised their two children, David and Melanie, in Watertown, SD.
Gary died on September 18, 2024, at Avantara Pierre Care Center in Pierre, SD. He was 71.
He is survived by his son, David (Erin Ryan) of Madison, WI; his daughter Melanie (James) Bowlin of Pierre, SD; three grandchildren Jacob, Megan and Alexander Bowlin; his siblings: Jeanne (Carl) Johnson of Crystal, MN; Kathleen (Richard) Havercamp of Cohasset, MN, Michael of Waite Park, MN, and Daniel (LeeAnn) Pond of Manitowoc, WI; as well as many nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Pat on May 26, 2016; a brother, William; and a sister-in-law, Katharine.
A graveside service will be held Thursday, September 26, at 11:30 AM, at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Ledyard, IA. His family will greet friends from 10:30 to 11:00 AM Thursday at Oakcrest Funeral Services of Bancroft, IA.