Gary A. Lamb

Gary Alan Lamb, age 80, of Ridgeland, WI passed away June 22, 2025 at the Neighbors of Dunn County in Menomonie, WI

He was born on April 29,1945 to Wallace and Esther Steinbrecher Lamb in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. He attended Chippewa Falls Public Schools and graduated from Chi Hi in 1963.

After graduating he enrolled in Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa and then transferred to University Wisconsin - Eau Claire in 1965 where he met his future wife, Susan Klefstad. Gary enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1966, was stationed at Hahn Air Base in Hahn, Germany for four years; honorably discharged as Sgt Lamb. While he was there, he enjoyed skydiving, auto racing, and travel.

He and Susan were engaged in 1969, then married in 1970, and lived in Kirschberg, Germany during his last enlisted years. When they came home, they owned and operated an auto parts store in Bruce, WI, then expanded his father Wally's hobby of beekeeping. They purchased a 40-acre farm in Dunn County where they raised two sons and a daughter. The beekeeping adventure developed into a business that eventually became a 9,000 colony operation. His sons now own it, raise honey bee queens in Texas, pollinate almonds in California, and produce honey in North Dakota. All aspects introduced by Gary over the years as the business grew.

His life required living away from home with the seasonal demands, but he remained an involved and dedicated father regularly attending his kids' sports and music events, hunting (especially ducks), and attending dirt-track car races. He had worked as a pit man for a racer friend and at one point owned and raced his own car.

He and Susan enjoyed traveling in Europe a few times, and much of the United States. He enjoyed music events frequently going to Big Top Chautauqua in Washburn, Wisconsin, and music groups like Dire Straits and the Eagles. He enjoyed gospel music and was a committed Christian and faithful church attender wherever he was: Texas, North Dakota, and United Lutheran in Wisconsin.

Gary was a member of several beekeeping organizations, national state, and local. At one point he served as the bee inspector for the state of Wisconsin. After selling Lamb's Honey Farm and retiring in 2010, a lake home on Lac Courte Oreilles in Hayward, WI kept him both busy and relaxed. It became a place to enjoy family and friends for 15 years and a perfect setting to read books, which was another passion.

Gary is survived by his wife Susan, sons Ryan (Kate), Michael (Gretchen), daughter Janine Burns (Kevin), and eight grandchildren (Madelyne, Kai, Zachary, Emerson, Adrian, Archer, Hadley, and Atticus) and many close family and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, sisters Karla and Glenda, grandson Oliver, and many respected and admired family in-law.

Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 28, 2025 at United Lutheran Church in Prairie Farm, WI with Pastor Sara Feld officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at Forest Hill Cemetery in Chippewa Falls.

Memorials will be donated to United Lutheran Church in Prairie Farm and local charity organizations.

To share a memory, please visit obituaries at www.olsonfuneral.com