GARY ALLEN AKKERMAN was born on September 3, 1948 to Clarence and Etta (Huisman) Akkerman in Worthington, Minnesota. Gary grew up on a farm near Lismore, Minnesota. He attended Adrian High School in Adrian, Minnesota. In his youth he enjoyed playing football, working on cars and helping on the farm. On June 3, 1967, Gary was united in marriage to Shirley Gehrke at Trinity Lutheran Church in Jasper, Minnesota. The couple made their home in Luverne where they raised their two sons, Lenny and Jesse. Gary worked at Hanson Silo and later at IBP. He then started driving truck for Sathers and from there drove for American Freight, D & J Transfer, Degroot Trucking and other small trucking companies. In 1998, he became employed by Dedicated Logistics, Inc. and would remain with them until his retirement in April of 2021. On Sunday, February 20, 2022, Gary died peacefully at the Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage in Luverne at the age of 73 years, 5 months, and 17 days.

Gary was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne. His hobbies included guns, dirt track racing, hunting, shooting trap, reloading and working on cars. He loved his jeeps. He enjoyed farming and driving for Ahrendt Farms and Knutson Farms. Gary will be remembered for being such a hard worker, always willing to help others, and a man that was dedicated to the love of his life, Shirley, and their family. If you knew Gary, you likely heard the following sayings more than once - "it's junk", "cut it up" and "wonderful".

Gary is lovingly remembered by his wife, Shirley Akkerman of Luverne; two sons, Lenny (Angie) Akkerman of St. Michael, Minnesota and Jesse (Candyce) Akkerman of Luverne; grandchildren, Nick (Aspen) Akkerman of Rogers, Minnesota, Makayla (special friend, Caleb Hultman) Akkerman of St. Michael, Brielle Watters, Masyn Akkerman, and Kane Akkerman of Luverne; sister-in-law, Sandy (Jim) Loose; and many other family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Etta Akkerman; his beloved dog, Abbie; parents-in-law, Harvey and Cora Gehrke; sister-in-law, Kari Hamann; brother-in-law, Gar Gehrke; and nephew, Joshua Frey.