Age 89 of Inver Grove Heights
Passed away on January 7, 2018 surrounded by his loving family. Born September 19, 1928 in St. Paul, Jerome (Jerry) was a graduate of Monroe High School and the College of St. Thomas. On September 8, 1951, he married Joan LeClaire. The two cherished a 66-year marriage, raising 7 kids, and doting on 15 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.
A dedicated family man, Jerry provided for his family working at American Hoist & Derrick and Waterous Company, where he finished his career as the company’s president. Jerry was a faithful student of the stock market, spending hours in his office analyzing the exchange and tracking his gains and losses. In his retirement, he became enamored with jigsaw puzzles, lining the walls of his office with completed puzzles and eager to tell you the story behind each one of them. He prided himself in completing the hardest of puzzles and would even create a replacement puzzle piece if one was missing.
Throughout his life, Jerry completed countless outdoor projects, often helping his kids build their decks, re-roof their homes, landscape their yards, or whatever else they needed. He was a longtime member at both the St. Paul Athletic Club (where he was the 1967 Class A handball champion) and the St. Paul Club.
Jerry loved to travel with Joan and passed that love on to his children through family road trips across the country. He and Joan vacationed internationally, as well as traveling to each of the 50 states. Later in life, Jerry relished his winter vacations to Orlando to soak up the sun, read lots of books, and, of course, visit Disney World with his grandchildren.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, 7 of his 9 siblings, and his son James (Jim). He is survived by his loving wife, Joan, his children: Jodell Vidas, Jerome, Jr. (LuAnn), daughter-in-law Phyllis, Mary Walker (Chris); Mark (Keely), Gregory (Andrea), and Christopher (Jennifer), his grandchildren: Julie, Brian, Ashley, Andrew, Alexander, Lindsay, Michael, Laura, Mitchell, Michaela, Grace, Benjamin, Henry, Jack, and Oliver, his great-grandchildren: Katherine, Owen, Addison, Blair, Sloane, Spencer, Lincoln, and Joseph. He is also survived by his brother William and sister Cecilia Lay.
Visitation will be on Friday January 12 from 6:00-8:30 p.m. at Roberts Funeral & Cremation Center; 8108 Barbara Avenue; Inver Grove Heights. Funeral services will be Saturday January 13 at 10:00 a.m. with visitation beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Church of the Assumption; 51 West 7th Street; St. Paul. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Jerry’s memory may be made to the charity of your choice.
“I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die.” John 11:25