It is with a sad heart that Associated California Loggers President Jeff Holland, the ACL Board of Directors, and the entire ACL team must let you know that last week, on July 1, 2025, ACL Board Member Gary Gladen passed away under sudden and unexpected circumstances.
Gary Gladen served for many years on the ACL Board of Directors, and was still an active Board Member when he passed away. Gary was also still active as the Chair of the El Dorado Mother Lode Chapter at the time of his passing.
We are all still waiting on more information from the authorities, but what we do know is that Gary was involved in a “one vehicle” accident while riding his motorcycle in the Amador County region that he had made home for many years –both as a resident and as the owner of several businesses, including “Wood-Land Expansion” -a logging company based in Pioneer–and “Ham’s Station” –a restaurant on Highway 88 with overnight cabins.
We understand that Gary had just installed a new battery in his Harly Davidson motorcycle, and was taking it for a “test drive.” We are awaiting further information from medical authorities as to what happened next.
Whether the cause of Gary’s passing was the crash, or other, contributing natural causes, remains to be determined.
In addition to serving on the ACL Board and as Chapter Chair, Gary Gladen was also well known at ACL for travelling — on behalf of the El Dorado Mother Lode Chapter – to Washington DC on our “Annual Fly-In” on several occasions and was a dynamic voice in meetings with Members of Congress, the Forest Service and staff. Gary last travelled with us to DC in the spring of 2024.
As you know, Gary’s son Jeremiah Gladen is also a member of the ACL Board. Please join us in expressing our deepest sympathy, thoughts and prayers to Jeremiah, to his sister Amy, to their sister Jodie, and to their mother, Gary’s wife Nancy Gladen, along with everyone else in the Gladen circle of family and friends.
“AN E-MAIL LETTER FROM BOARD MEMBER JEREMIAH GLADEN,ANNOUCING SERVICE ON SATURDAY JULY 19, 2025, FOR HIS FATHER, GARY”:
“To the ACL Family,
from the Gladen Family
Here is the time and date for Gary’s funeral and celebration of life to immediately follow:
SATURDAY, JULY 19TH AT 10:00 AM
COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN CHURCH
14045 PONDEROSA WAY
PINE GROVE, CA 95665
CELEBRATION OF LIFE AFTER THE SERVICE::
The Celebration of Life will be held
at a separate location immediately following the service. This will be at:
THE ITALIAN PICNIC GROUNDS
581 STATE HIGHWAY 49
SUTTER CREEK, CA 95685
The Celebration of Life will start at Noon and go until the evening.
Food will be catered along with beverages. This facility has air conitioning and bathrooms, along with outside tables, grass, and shade.
Both places are handicapped accessible with easy access for all. The Gladen family hopes to see everyone and we thank you for all your support, love, and prayers.
We have had lots of people ask about donations. We don’t expect anyone to donate, but with the amount of people asking, we have set up two different donations:
Monetary donations can be made either by:
ONE: Donation checks made out to Log-a-Load for Kids and sent directly to Nancy Gladen at P.O Box 782 Pioneer, California 95666 OR
TWO: Donation checks made out to Log a Load for Kids and sent to:
Associated California Loggers
555 Capitol Mall, Suite 460
Sacramento, CA 95814
NOTE: Please write in the “Memo” line on all checks: “In Memory of Gary Gladen”
PLEASE NOTE:
“We will be working on personal donations to establish, in the future, a “kids forestry scholarship program,” in Gary’s memory.
“Please share this e-mail with all ACL family, forestry colleagues, equipment vendors, and anyone else in our industry.”
“Thank you so much, love to you all. God bless and log on!”
“Love — the Gladen Family”
PS. THE OFFICERS OF THE EL DORADO MOTHER LODE CHAPTER OF ASSOCIATED CALIFORNIA LOGGERS HAVE ASKED US TO SHARE WITH ALL ACL MEMBERS, THE FOLLOWIING MESSAGE: THOUGH GARY GLADEN WAS THE CHAPTER CHAIR OF THIS CHAPTER FOR MANY YEARS, WE WANT ALL ACL MEMBERS TO KNOW THAT WE WILL CONTINUE THE CHAPTER UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP, WITH MEETINGS IN THE NEAR FUTURE — GARY WOULD HAVE WANTED IT THAT WAY.” :