He was born on the family farm in Tara Township near Danvers, MN, to Robert and Helen (Senholz) Gades. He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fairfield Township. He graduated from Holloway High School in 1946. He was active in sports, and journalism, but especially enjoyed playing baseball. He married Evie Hagerud on August 24, 1951. They farmed north of Danvers for 12 years before moving to the farm northeast of Holloway. She died in April 1976. He married Mae Jobgen on December 26, 1977. They continued to farm until 1989, and had an auction in March 1990. He was a founding member of the Putts 'n Purrs tractor club and Appleton Western Prairie Farm Collectors club. In July 2009, he auctioned off most of his antique tractor and equipment collection. He moved to Benson in June 2014 and sold the farm site in Holloway. He served in various capacities at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Danvers, and Immanuel Lutheran Church, Holloway; served as a Marysland Township Supervisor for 27 years, was on the board of the Danvers Elevator and Swift County Historical Society, and participated in Adopt-a-Highway. He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Evie (Hagerud) Gades; brothers- and sisters-in-law, Roger Gades, Robert and Joyce Gades; Richard and Marie Gades; son-in-law, John Seliga; grandsons, Jed Goulet and Timothy Seliga; niece, Terri Gades; step-daughter, Cindy Giese; step-granddaughter, Alicia Jobgen; step-great-grandchildren Devon Sayre, Stacey Hammerschmidt, and Joe Burns. Surviving are his wife, Mae Gades; daughters, Kay Seliga, Kris (Steve) Hallis, Clair Gades, and Karen Gades; grandchildren, Jason Goulet, Kara Goulet, Erin Hallis, great grandchildren, Myah and McKinley Goulet; stepchildren, Charlotte (Jim) Sayre, Chuck Jobgen, Ron Giese, Marilyn (Don) Larsen, Denny (Amy) Jobgen, Julie (Dewy) Palm, and Mike (Brenda) Jobgen; sister, Zelda (Carleton) Zahn; and nieces and nephews, Jim, Liz, Kim, Heidi, Steve, and Nancy.