A visitation will be held at Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, 104 First St. W., Jordan, MN, on Monday, August 17, 2026, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., and on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 313 Second St. E., Jordan, MN. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:00 a.m. Father Bryan Pederson will preside. Gary will be laid to rest at Fort Snelling National Cemetery at a later date.
Gary Milo Svoboda was born on July 2, 1948, in Willmar, MN, to Theodore and Catherine Svoboda as the third of four children. While in high school, Gary took a job at Pekarna Meat Market in Jordan and following his graduation from Jordan High School in 1967, he enrolled at Pipestone Technical College for meat cutting. He worked for the City of Bloomington at that time because he had a 1A draft status. In 1969, Gary drafted into the U.S. Army, where he was stationed in Korea and served as a cook during the Vietnam War.
Following the war, Gary returned to Minnesota and started working at Walsh’s Super Mart. This began a 30-year meat-cutting career that included 20 years at Sullivan's Meat Market, where he proudly retired at age 53.
Gary made his first home in Jordan, where his pride and joy, Mary was born. They later moved to Bloomington before building a home in Eden Prairie in 1977, where Gary lived for 45 years before moving to the Commons on Marice in Eagan in 2023.
Gary was a fun, loving, and protective father and grandfather to his daughter and granddaughters. He ensured his girls grew up understanding the value of education, money, and most importantly faith. He was a strong supporter of those in need and was deeply devoted to his Catholic faith. While Gary was an active member of Pax Christi Catholic Community in Eden Prairie, he always felt his “home parish” was St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Jordan.
Gary had many hobbies and interests throughout his life. He had a love of trees, even owning a tree farm at one point. He collected tractors, enjoyed a good card or cribbage game, and recently took up boxing. He treasured time at the cabin on the White Fish Chain and was known for his firm, stubborn, and endlessly positive attitude—a man who was fun and easy to be around. He stayed active and social with daily walks around his neighborhood whether it was Eden Prairie or the halls of Commons on Marice Senior Living Community. He also loved to travel, spending winters in Arizona and taking trips nationally and internationally with his special companion, Carol Pendelton.
Gary had a strong, lifelong interest in the stock market and personal finance. He enjoyed following the markets and discussing investing with family and friends, though he never told his secrets. He appreciated the value of hard work, careful planning, and making wise financial decisions in every way – whether that meant working the stock markets or ordering only from the Dollar Menu.
Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore and Catherine Svoboda; his brother-in-law, Gordy Steinert; and his special friends, Carol Pendelton and Darlene Unruh.
Gary is survived by his daughter, Mary (Konrad) Kupka; granddaughters, Kalley (Matt Theis) Kupka and Rilie (Jack Owen) Kupka; siblings, Ted (Linda) Svoboda, Gertrude Steinert, and Darlene (David) French; as well as nieces, nephews, others relatives and friends.
A special thank you to the teams at the Commons on Marice and the Minneapolis VA Medical Center for their exceptional care they gave to Gary and his family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Parkinson's Foundation, The Commons on Marice, Eagan, or St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Jordan.
