Gerald "Jerry" Arthur Gehrke

Husband, Father, and Grandfather, Gerald “Jerry” Arthur Gehrke, passed away at his home in North Mankato Tuesday morning (December 21, 2021).

Born on February 12, 1946, to Arthur and Marjorie Gehrke in Faribault, MN, Jerry lived his entire life in Minnesota, graduating from Waterville High School and settling in the Mankato area in the early 70s. Like the Coca-Cola he loved, Jerry was a true classic: a man devoted to his family, to his job and to his country. Jerry took a job at Coca-Cola in April of 1969 and remained with the company until his retirement this past January. In 2019, his remarkable devotion and hard work were honored by Coca-Cola at a 50^th anniversary celebration. Jerry served in the Army from 1965-67 and was also a medic in the Army National Guard, joining in 1973 and retiring as a First Sergeant in 2006. A lover of old westerns and history, Jerry also loved to travel to the Black Hills of South Dakota, and to the Gettysburg Battlefield. In 2012, he took thirteen family members on a trip to Hawaii. The benefits of Jerry’s hard work, his love and generous spirit will continue to be felt by his family--his wife, Nancy, whom he married on August 31, 1968, his sister, Judy (Ronnie) Gregor; his daughter, Gwen (John) Gimmestad; his sons, Steve and Matt (Jodi); and his five grandchildren: Lauren (Reed) Larson, Anna Gimmestad, Daniel Gehrke, Ava Gehrke and Chloe Meyer Gehrke. He was preceded in death by his parents.

A memorial service for Jerry will be held at a later date.  Northview-North Mankato Mortuary assisted the family with arrangements.