Gerald L. “Jerry” Johnson, 85

St. Joseph

April 30, 1932-Dec. 25, 2017

Gerald L. “Jerry” Johnson, 85, of St. Joseph, died Dec. 25, 2017 at the St. Cloud Hospital. His funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 3 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 12 W. Minnesota St., St. Joseph. The Rev. Jerome Tupa, OSB, will officiate. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018 and from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service on Wednesday, all at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Heritage Hall.

Jerry was born on April 30, 1932 in Blue Grass, Minnesota to George and Esther (Mietzel) Johnson. He graduated from Wadena High School in 1949. In 1954, he married Theresa Wrede. While living in Wadena, Johnson was an accomplished baseball umpire, even being offered a minor league umpiring contract, which he declined. He and his family moved to St. Joseph in 1964. Johnson worked as a route salesman for various companies, eventually retiring in 1995 as an independent distributor for Little Debbie Snacks. He was a volunteer firefighter for the Wadena and St. Joseph fire departments, retiring after 32 years of service and a member of the Teamsters for 20 years. He enjoyed golfing, hunting, bowling, playing cards and spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Survivors include the following: his wife of 63 years; children, Debra (Steve) Herlofsky, Julie (John) Taufen, Gary (Mary) Johnson and Diane (Kevin) McGrew; grandchildren, Adam (Courtney) Schneider, Ryan Schneider, Eric (Bonnie) Schneider, Nicole (Aaron) Blackmore and Tasha Herlofsky; brother, Ronald (Jean) Johnson; nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and granddaughter, Lindsey Johnson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.

Author: Janelle Von Pinnon

Von Pinnon has been publishing the St. Joseph Newsleader since 1989, the Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader since 1995 and the Sauk Rapids-Rice Newsleader since 2015. She graduated from Minnesota State University-Moorhead with degrees in mass communications (with an emphasis on print journalism) and biology. She lives in southeast St. Cloud with her husband and two children.