He was born January 30, 1942 in Green Bay to Harry and Eleanor (Ruby) Van Caster. He grew up in the area and graduated from Green Bay West High School in 1960. He was drafted into the U.S. Army where he went on to serve in the Vietnam War. Later he moved to Morgan, WI where he regularly attended St. John’s Lutheran Church and taught Sunday school. Around 1999/2000 he moved into Oconto Falls, WI where he lived out the rest of his days. 

Although he held several other jobs in his lifetime, he seemed to truly cherish his time working as a small engine mechanic with his father and spoke quite fondly of that time.

 Throughout his years Gary was a stubborn, often selfish person and a master at finding ways to get others to do things for him. Yet he managed to be there when truly needed. He was a tightwad, but also loved to gamble at the slot machines and collect things. He was an avid collector of, let’s say, many things, which he told all about to everyone. He proudly displayed his finds in every room of his house! Even more than his love for collecting things, he enjoyed the treasure hunting involved! He could be found buying and selling at auctions, flea markets, antique malls and the like. To say it was a hobby would be a huge understatement! As it is said “One man’s garbage is another man’s treasure!” And Gary took that to heart. He often tried to make people happy by showing and even sometimes giving others something he had or found treasure hunting, when he thought they liked it. He had a love of animals, especially dogs and cats and was known to have at least one most of his life. 

He was preceded in death by his parents Harry and Eleanor (Ruby) Van Caster, three brothers Gerald “Jerry” Van Caster, Neal Van Caster, James “Jim” L. De Bauche, and sister Bonnie Schumacher (Van Caster)