Gerald Bersaw

Gerald L. Jerry Bersaw, age 80 of rural Mankato, died Wednesday, October 29, 2003 after a lengthy illness at Nancys Comfort Kare.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in North Mankato with Rev. Richard Colletti officiating. Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4"7 p.m., Friday at Mankato Mortuary and one hour before services at the church on Saturday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the ISJ " Hospice Program.

Jerry was born to H.M. Buck and Lenore (Sharbach) Bersaw on March 28, 1923 in Madelia. His younger years were spent at Holy Rosary Catholic Elementary and Loyola High School in Mankato. After graduation from high school, he attended the University of Minnesota and emerged with an accounting and business degree. He worked in sales and marketing until 1951 at which time he embarked on what turned out to be a 31 year career with Minnegasco. Jerry found he didnt enjoy office work and preferred to be out doors or working with his hands. He retired from Minnegasco in 1982 and devoted the remainder of his life to conservation and wildlife habitat enrichment. Jerry enjoyed hunting and fishing and was a life member of many local wildlife organizations such as: Minnesota Deer Hunters Assoc. (where he served on the Board of Directors and as Chairman of the annual banquet for many years). He was also a life member of Pheasants Forever, Nicollet County Conservation Club, and Minnesota Waterfowl as well as many other such organizations. He worked closely with the DNR and local farmers helping locate and obtain land for state wildlife management areas. Jerry won the 1998 Outstanding Minnesota Farmer Sportsman Award for his efforts in restoring his 80 acre farmland into a wildlife habitat. His home overlooks his work, complete with walking trails, food plots for deer, benches upon which to rest and enjoy the peace and beauty of the outdoors, along with Wood Duck houses and nesting cover for several Canadian geese pairs that returned yearly to his 51-acre marsh. He also raised and released pheasants in an effort to increase their diminishing population in Minnesota.

He married Mary Jane Katsurenis in June 1945 and together they had two children; Linda and Richard. Mary preceded him in death in 1990. He married Valaria Thomas in November 1994.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Val, of Mankato; two children, Richard Bersaw and wife, Beth of Mankato; Linda Dusek of Easton; stepchildren, Brad Thomas of Bradenton, FL, Brian Thomas of Mankato, Diane Rauchman and husband, Darrell of Mankato; grandchildren, Paul Bersaw of Charlotte, NC, Peter Bersaw and wife, Angela of Zumbrota, step-grandchildren, Jenny Kurtz and husband, Jason of Hoven, SD, Courtney Walker, Erik Walker, Cody Rauchman, Tom Rauchman and wife, Janelle, all of Mankato, Dan Rauchman of Minneapolis; step-great-grandchildren, Ethan Kurtz, Kaylie Rauchman, and Cole Rauchman.