Pray, Hope and Don't Worry

Dear Family and Friends,

Pray, Hope and Don't Worry was a quote my Dad cherished and he is now in Heaven.

Thank you for following my Dad's blog over the past year where he expressed his thoughts and greatest passions as he went through his journey to the inevitable. As my brother-in-law Tim put it, he showed us how to battle this terrible disease with grace and dignity- not different than he has led his entire life. He led by example to the very end with his mind as sharp as ever. One of the last and most special days for my Dad and I was writing my Mom's 65th Birthday card together and he presenting her with a beautiful crucifix with hearts to wear as a reminder of his love. He signed it, I love you now and forever.

I have included his obituary to share with all of you.

Dr. Gary Michael DeLoia, age 66, died on Thursday, November 15th, 2012, in Duluth, from complications of leukemia.


A resident of Duluth for most of his life, Gary was raised near Pike Lake by parents Joe and Lorraine DeLoia. He graduated from Proctor High School in 1963, and from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in 1969.

Gary was a patriotic person, and joined the United States Army stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, and the Republic of Vietnam. After military service, he established a dental practice in Duluth with Dr. Robert Ryan, and later became an associate at Lake Superior Dental. He practiced dentistry for 42 years and was an advocate for continuing dental education and preventative dentistry. Gary lived with an innate sense of empathy for those less fortunate in his community and in other parts of the world. He had a strong desire for volunteerism, which included dental missions within Vietnam, and later missions in Israel, St. Vincent, and Cambodia.

A parishioner of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary since 1972, Gary was a member of the Holy Rosary School Board, also serving as chairman for one year. He served on the boards of Port Area Catholic Education, and St. Mary's Hospital. He was also a member of the American Dental Association, the Minnesota Dental Association, and the Northeastern District Dental Society.

Gary had many hobbies, and most were centered around the outdoors. He cherished the times shared with his dogs. He also enjoyed enhancing the natural beauty of his surroundings.

Self-described as a Catholic American father, Gary was most proud of his family, his faith, and his military service. He also took pride in his work, and fully appreciated the many wonderful friendships he made with his patients and coworkers. He was amazed by the outpouring of kindness bestowed upon him throughout his illness, and was immensely appreciative of the care he received from so many exceptional doctors and caregivers. Most of all, he was grateful to have been able to confront his illness in an honest and accepting way with the loving support of his wife, Linda. Together they shared a full and beautiful life.


Gary is survived by his wife of 44 years, Linda (Laase) DeLoia; parents Joseph and Lorraine DeLoia; in-laws John and Myrtle Laase; daughters Allison (Timothy) Johanson and Kimber DeLoia; son Matthew (Jennifer) DeLoia; grandchildren Adelaide, August, Erik, and Tomas Johanson, and Giselle and Glenn DeLoia; brothers Thomas (Gail) DeLoia and Jeffrey (Karen) DeLoia; sisters Halene (Paul) von Wiegandt and Betsy (Steven) Godmare, and his nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and many friends who enriched his life immeasurably.



VISITATION: Sunday, November 18th from 4pm-6pm at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, 2801 E. 4th St., Duluth

FUNERAL MASS: Monday, November 19th, at 11am at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church

BURIAL: Tuesday, November 20th at 1pm at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, 7601 34th Ave South, Minneapolis

Memorials preferred to Holy Rosary Catholic School, 2802 E. 4th St., Duluth, MN 55812 or Solvay Hospice House, 801 Baylis St., Duluth, MN 55811.

Pallbearers Deliver the Casket for Honors at Fort Snelling

Placing a Lily on the Casket

Family and Friends Share in a Final Goodbye

Presentation of the American Flag on Behalf of a Grateful Nation

Viewing the Burial Site, plot #394, Fort Snelling, Minnesota

A Veteran’s Fall to Remember

I have used this blog as a form of therapy to compliment the wonderful care received throughout my battle with leukemia.  This forum has been my opportunity to share with you and engage in some helpful and distracting mental exercises.  I have been reluctant to describe the progression of my disease in the hope, that one day, it would be reversed and placed in remission.  Unfortunately, my disease is uncommon, brutal, and almost never cured.   

Throughout this Fall, I have been fortuned with sufficient comfort and energy to remain active and engage with friends and family in fairly routine ways.  This included many dinners with Linda and friends, long walks around my home, and hunting trips to North Dakota and Red Lake (Fall Hunting Video with Friends).  It has also included the business of placing things in order for my family.  So many have over-extended themselves to help Linda and me in this difficult time. We could not be luckier.

The grim details of my disease I recently articulated to the Veteran’s Administration.  The association between leukemias and the defoliant Agent Orange is well documented and therefore a seemingly just reason for disability benefits.  In pursuit of these benefits I wrote the following about my disease:  

“I have a diagnosis of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), transformed to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with complications of extramedullary disease.  My treatment included three rounds of chemotherapy that have all failed due to the presence of many soft tissue cancers called granulocytic sarcoma.  These have occurred in my sinus, testes and most significantly, my skin.  My current treatment consists of oral chemotherapy and various radiation techniques to palliate these symptoms of pain, weakness and visual disturbances.

When in Vietnam during 1970-71, my station or area of operation was a firebase in Phuc Long province.  We also went on many occasions to foreground landing zones and villages for volunteer medical/dental missions.  My main position was as the dentist for a medical company in the 1^st Cavalry Division localized near the town of Song Be. This area was one of the most heavily defoliated areas in the country.  Additionally, we were sprayed biweekly with insecticides for mosquito control.  Even so, we were ordered to take anti-malaria prophylaxis with Chloroquine/Primiquine tablets once a week along with Dapsone daily until my physician friends found literature linking Dapsone use to agranulocytosis.  We did continue the Chloroquine/Primiquine tablets all along, in spite of the inevitable diarrhea they caused. 

The list of veterans’ diseases associated with Agent Orange includes things like various leukemias, Hodgkin’s disease, diabetes, prostate cancer and many others.  These are included by way of epidemiology and mathematical statistics to show increased rates, however so tenuous, in Vietnam veterans with Agent Orange exposure.”

I volunteered into the Army in 1969 to do my very best and serve my country.  When assigned to a medical company on a totally defoliated firebase, I went without hesitation and was given many compliments by my superiors, including the Bronze Star for service.  I hope that the VA will approve my claim, which I believe is warranted given the now-known hazards exposed to the U.S. military assigned to the Republic of Vietnam.

This Veteran’s weekend, family and friends surround me.  I thank everyone, and am humbled by those who have traveled great distances to visit with Linda and me.  Kimber is on her way and I will have all my kids with me tonight.  I hope to share with you more in the coming week.  Sincerely and with love, Gary.