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Gerald (Jerry) H. Johnson, 86, of Perham, MN, formerly of Delano, MN, was granted his angel wings Monday, March 13, 2023, with his family by his side.
Memorial services will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 22, 2023, with visitation one hour prior to service at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Perham, MN.
Jerry’s Hadley House coffee and snack time was at 3 p.m. every day. His family would like to honor Jerry’s favorite part of the day by inviting you to the fellowship hall following the service for sweet treats and refreshments.
Gerald’s family will lay him to rest at St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery at a later date.
Jerry was born July 16, 1936, in Morris, Stevens County, MN.
He graduated from Morris High School in 1954.
Following high school, Jerry enlisted in the United States Navy, where he honorably served his country until his discharge in 1957.
He met the love of his life, Betty Ann Mau, in Morris, where Betty was renting a room from Jerry’s parents. He came home from the Navy, saw and fell in love with her, and the rest is history.
They were married Oct. 21, 1956. They renewed their wedding vows April 19, 1980, at Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Delano.
Jerry’s career started off working with Super Valve in 1957. Later, Jerry went to work for Ken Krienke Construction until starting his own business, Jerry Johnson Construction, which then turned into Gerald Johnson and Son Builders.
After moving to Perham, Jerry then became the building inspector for the City of Perham and surrounding areas.
In 1998, Jerry and Betty moved from Delano to retire in a log home they built in Perham. They lived in this home until they moved into the Hadley House Assisted Living Facility in February 2018. They lived there until God came and took them to their final resting place in heaven.
Jerry had many hobbies and loves, including his children, spoiling his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, hunting, fishing, traveling, and golf. In his later years, Jerry dove into gardening at the Hadley House.
Jerry’s love for his church and God had him serving on the church board and running the building committee during the time of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church’s addition to their school.
Over Jerry’s life span, he was active in the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, the Delta Waterfowl Association, the Carpenters Union, and AA.
Jerry was a recovering alcoholic of 46 wonderful years, and he and Betty started the AA chapters in the Delano and surrounding areas.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Henning “Shorty” W. and Selma “Sally” A. Johnson; twin brothers, Ronald and Donald Johnson; father-in-law, Joseph Mau; mother-in-law, Bertha Wetter; brother-in-law, Jerry Roles; son-in-law, Jimmy Embola; great-granddaughter, Paisley Schwarzrock; great-grandson, Oaklee Hirsch; and nephews, Scott Johnson and Danny Johnson.
Jerry is survived by his daughters, Toni (Duane) Hirsch, Sandy (Mark) Anderson, and Linda Embola; son, Mark (Tina) Johnson; grandchildren, Nichole (Chad) Kuechle, Jason (Jill) Hirsch, Ashley Hirsch, Brandon Hirsch (Brittany Ferrell), Tara Moores, Tracy (Anthony) Chojnacki, Alicia (Justin) Bigley, Shannon Anderson, Sarah Altmann (William Linebaugh), Isaac (Nancy) Altmann, Hannah Altmann (fiancee Eric Hanson), Kristine Johnson, Cassandra Yarbrough, Tyler Johnson, Alicia (Jimmy) Schwarzrock, and Dylan Johnson; 30 great-grandchildren; brothers, Richard (Jeanne) Johnson and Robert (Marion) Johnson; sister, Sylvia Roles; many nieces, nephews, greats and grands, cousins, and too many friends and acquaintances to name them all, but they know who they are.
Visit www.karvonenfuneralhome.com to leave memorials and condolences on Jerry’s tribute wall.
Arrangements provided by Karvonen Funeral and Cremation Service of New York Mills, MN.
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