Gerhard Hegel, 78, was born in 1943 in Ludwigsfelde, Berlin to Helga and Herman Hegel. Gary was a longtime resident of Lyman, Wyoming. He died in Salt Lake City due to Covid complications.

He was one of five children. They immigrated to the United States when he was 12 years old. After Ellis Island, the family moved to Denver, Colorado. Gary dropped out of school in 6th grade. Later, he served our country in Vietnam.

In the 1960’s he met the love of his life, Sharee Hunt. They were married and in 1971 they had Dana. They started their married life in Colorado Springs and decided to locate to Lyman, Wyoming. Sharee had a daughter from a previous marriage by the name of Veronica. Gary adopted her as they started their lives together.

For several years, Gary worked as a blaster at FMC. In his mid-forties he decided he wanted to live on his own terms. He quit mining, and for the rest of his life worked on projects that he wanted to do. He was an artist by nature and loved to cut wooden statues with a chainsaw. Gary loved building and tinkering around his property. He loved to see how things worked and try to make any design better.

Gary and Sharee divorced but remained good friends the rest of their lives. He stayed in Lyman until the time of his death. He is preceded in death by his parents, and two siblings. He is survived by his son Dana (Laura) Hegel, his granddaughter Emma and his brother Bernd (Patty) Hegel, and sister Heidi (Don) Fleming.

At this time there will not be an immediate service. We will have a celebration of life in the Denver area this summer.