Gerald Joseph Erkel
December 28, 1935 — January 2, 2019
Gerald Joseph Erkel
Gerald “Jerry” Joseph Erkel, loving husband and father of four children, passed away at the age of 83 on the 2nd of January, 2019. Jerry was born to Ambrose Erkel and Clara (Weber) in St. Peter on the 28th of December 1935 as the seventh of nine children (Gordon, Leonard, Robert, Pat, Betty, Marilyn, Don and Jim). Jerry spent most of his youth in LeCenter and North Mankato, Minnesota. He graduated from Mankato Loyola Catholic High School in 1955. He worked for Amco in Mankato and was then enlisted in the army from 1958 to 1960. In 1959, when he was 23, Jerry married Alma Ramy, the love of his life; they had four children and made their home on Nicollet Ave in North Mankato. He attended college from 1966-1967 and worked at Honeymead for 35 years on mechanical maintenance. He then retired at age 59 in 1995.
After retiring, Jerry enjoyed many years of traveling around the world with Alma and visiting his children in Duluth, Spring Lake Township, Europe, and Australia. Other trips took them to Lebanon, California, Florida, Hawaii, Mexico, Costa Rica, the Fiji Islands, and New Zealand. A trip to Rome to see the Pope was a highlight in his life.
Jerry always made visitors from all over the world feel welcome at his home and would say, “We are so happy you came, we otherwise wouldn’t eat so well.” and thanked his wife daily: “May God bless the hands that made the food.”
Although Jerry was almost 100% German, he embraced his wife’s culture (and we believe he thought he was Lebanese). He would educate his children on how much Lebanon has contributed to our world. His house was open to many of Alma’s Lebanese nephews and nieces who became like children to him, among them Chebel Mina (Karen) with Thomas and Liam (Gerald and Alma’s adopted grandchildren).
He was preceded in death by his brothers, Robert, Leonard, Gordon, and Jim; sister, Marilyn; brothers-in-law, Jim Marti and Howard Michels; sister-in-law, Barbara Erkel; and great-granddaughter, Kylie Wildgen.
Jerry is survived by his wife, Alma; his four children, Joseph (Sybille), John Ambrose, Robert (Kathy), and Therez (David); grandchildren, Emily and Natalie, Tony (Robyn), Steven and Julianne (Eric), Rahme and Maia, Luke and Mattea; and great-grandchildren, Dylan and Bethany, Arielle, Elysia, Trinity and Isaiah; and Jerry’s three siblings, Pat Erkel, Betty Michels, and Don Erkel; and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, January 5, 2019 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, North Mankato. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the church. Northview ~ North Mankato Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.
The family prefers memorials be directed to Holy Rosary Catholic Church, St. Croix Hospice, or Veterans Homeward Bound.
We want to express our deep thanks to the staff at Oak Terrace and St. Croix Hospice that made Jerry’s last years and days comfortable.
We will always carry his memory in our hearts.
Ephesians 2:8
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.
Ephesians 2:8
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.
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