Memorial service for Gary Lars Grasdalen will be held June 21, 2003 at 2 p.m. at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church.

Gary died Wednesday April 30 in California. He was 57 years old.

Gary was born Oct. 7, 1945, in Albert Lea to Lars and Lillie Grasdalen. He graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1963 and received a Bachelor’s Degree from Harvard College graduating Magna cum Laude in 1967. After earning a Ph.D. in Astronomy from University of California, Berkley in 1972, he was a Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Wyoming from 1977-1988. As one of the triumvirate of UW professors who built the Wyoming infrared telescope, he contributed to almost 200 scientific publications and mentored and supervised many doctoral students. From 1988-1998 he was a co-owner of “Dads” diner in Denver. Also from 1988-2003 Gary was a consultant to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory Table Mountain Observatory where he set up his G-Star Enterprises business.

Gary is survived by his two sisters, Lavon Engen and Janet Stadheim, plus many nieces and nephews.