April 12, 1936  ~ August 1, 2006

Gary Minnis,  a.k.a. "The Gas Man" to the wine industry, died August 1, 2006 with his wife Melinda at his side. Gary was born April 12, 1936 in Garden City, Kansas. At the age of 5 his family moved to Fullerton, CA, where he completed grammar school and graduated from Fullerton High School in 1953, being the youngest in his graduating class and anxious to move on to college. He graduated from Cal State Long Beach in 1958 with a Bachelor's in economics and business administration. He then went on to become a salesman for State Farm Ins. In the early 60's he went to work for Air Liquide becoming Vice President of the Western Division of the U.S. It was during that time that he developed his love of good food and wine. He then furthered his education of the wine industry by studying wine making, enology and viticulture through classed at U.C. Davis. After retiring from Air Liquide, Gary started his own distributorship in Ukiah and Santa Rosa, CA those both being called "Wine Country Gases". As Wine Country Gases grew he moved into the Napa region building Complete Welders Supply which his daughter and son-in-law Melissa and Mike Kowaleski now own. That being conquered he moved on to the next largest wine-growing region in CA, the central coast area. In February of '97 he opened the Central Coast Gases in Paso Robles. Two years later opening another store in Santa Maria. Not long after that West Coast Welders in Santa Rosa became available and then became part of Wine Country Gases. Gary is survived by his wife Melinda , daughter Melissa Kowaleski and husband Mike of Napa, CA, sons Greg and Scott Minnis of Santa Rosa, CA and brother Mark Minnis of Palm City, FL. As per Gary's request no formal funeral services were held. A gathering of friends and family attended  a "Celebration of his life" on Saturday, August 12 at Peachy Canyon Winery in Templeton, CA. In lieu of flowers donations were made to Country Care Convalescent Hospital, Atascadero, CA. Donations were for construction of "Eden Plaza" a retreat for patients and their families.

Published Online in the Press Democrat on Aug. 9, 2006
Submitted by Earl Gibson