From Senate Minority Leader Bakk: On the Passing of Gary Kubly

Gary Kubly was a friend, a wonderful and funny man who loved Western Central Minnesota and its people.  I'm deeply saddened by this message from Senator Bakk:

Dear Colleagues and Friends:

We were all deeply saddened to learn of Gary Kubly’s passing yesterday.

Senator Kubly was a man who embodied every ideal as a person and in public service. He worked hard. He was honest. He shared credit even when he was the one who did the heavy lifting. To Gary Kubly, it simply did not matter where you came from, only where you ended up. He got a lot of things done that way, and everyone in Minnesota is better for it.

I had the honor of serving with Senator Kubly in both the Minnesota House and Senate. As a Lutheran minister, he often led the Senate in our opening prayer, and I will always remember his inspiring messages. But Senator Kubly didn’t just talk about cooperation and respect for all people. He lived it.

He met his final challenge—a grueling and agonizing diagnosis that sapped his strength—with grit and the determination to serve his constituents to the very end.

He was a man who managed a career in faith and politics in a way that few could ever match. He leaves us now with thousands of friends, and not an enemy in the world.

Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers. Details of the arrangements will be forthcoming.

Sincerely,
Tom Bakk

Photo: Gary Kubly

Comments

[T Pa or Coffee]

Senator Kubly was a humble, religious man who will be remembered fondly in history. What a contrast in values, style, and intelligence when compared to the person in your last story!

[Phoenix Woman]

He sounds like the sort of quiet, hardworking, and unshakably decent person Minnesota, especially rural Minnesota, once was noted for producing. Ave atque vale, Rev. Kubly!

This caught my eye:

I had the honor of serving with Senator Kubly in both the Minnesota House and Senate. As a Lutheran minister, he often led the Senate in our opening prayer, and I will always remember his inspiring messages.

I couldn't help but think of the last time I remember reading about a minister opening a legislative session with a prayer: http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2011/05/bradlee_dean_opening_prayer.php

I suspect that Rev. Kubly's prayers were nothing like this, thank goodness.

[MIke Worcester]

His voice of reason in the legislature will be missed. A sad day the people of Granite Falls and all of Minnesota. Were it that more of our legislators took his approach to governing.