Jerry Allen Gish

Jerry Allen Gish was born to James and Ida Gish on June 16, 1937, at Waterville, Mn. He was the 5th of 6 children and the youngest son. 

Jerry passed away peacefully on November 14th, 2024, at Mankato Mayo Hospital with family by his side. 

 Visitation will be held at Northview- North Mankato Mortuary on Friday, November 22, 2024, from 4:00-7:00p.m. Funeral Mass will be held at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in North Mankato at 11:00a.m., Saturday, November 23, 2024. Visitation will begin at 10:00a.m. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery- Montgomery. 

Jerry grew up in Cordova, Mn. Jerry married Janet David August 21, 1957, having known each other growing up as neighbors-living just over a mile apart. Jerry left school in the 10th grade. He started working at an early age milking cows, cutting, and hauling wood for his dad. He entered the regular army November 14, 1955, with honorable release November 6, 1958, including time as company clerk, spending time stationed in Metz France. He received his Honorable Discharge US Army Reserve (E-5). He was proud of obtaining his High School GED while in the military. Jerry then lived for a time joining his wife in Rochester Mn, working days at a service station and nights, part of a crew mopping floors at the massive IBM facility. 

Jerry and Janet then came to Mankato first living at Knollwood trailer park, then a house at 713 North 5th street. Jerry and Janet’s country roots saw them in the fall of 1963 buying 65 acres and a farm site built in the late 1800’s and 55 acres under plow between Mankato and St Peter. He worked from 1959 for seven years at H & C Electric Supply, eventually in charge of the city desk. In 1967 he took a job with Marv Steele Electric at St Claire and began learning the Electrical trade. He then took a job with Ritt TV, Appliance and Electric in St Peter to be closer to home. 

Jerry and Janet started Gish Electric on April 1, 1970, at which they worked together in the field and the office. Jerry’s vision and guidance helped grow the company, which is owned and operated today by 2nd and 3rd generations of Gish’s. He also co-owned Gish Trucking which operated for 20 years. We said he was “Semi Retired” while he was able to travel the lower 48 states always driving a Peterbilt. His legacy includes dozens of past and present employees who knew him as Big Jer and could count on him to offer a real nugget of wisdom. His work ethic was instilled as just a part of the life of a generation that overcame challenges, hardship and experienced so much change in the world. He was so proud of what they started together, still living at the place, occasionally running parts to old and new customer’s jobsites and always keeping a watchful eye on things. 

Jerry enjoyed work and worked a lot. As a boy and throughout life Jerry enjoyed deer hunting. Hunting trips with family and friends in northern Minnesota and more than a dozen trips hunting Elk in Colorado including trips in his early 80’s. He loved fishing Lake Gorman at Cordova as a kid and for the past several years keeping his boat at West Jefferson, just a few miles from his childhood fishing hole. In the 70’s and 80’s they enjoyed snowmobiling in the winter owning several fast sleds and like anything he drove or did he liked the chance to find the top end. 

Jerry is survived by his wife of 67 years Janet; Daughter Diana (Jim) Compart of Rural Nicollet, Mn; Grandsons and great Grandchildren, Rudy (Anita) Compart, Darcy and Sloan of Mount Prospect, IL, Robby (Anna) Compart, Richard of rural Princeton, MN, Daniel (Devan) Compart, Alexander of St Paul, MN, David (Kaitlyn) Compart of Milford, OH; Daughter Linda Sachs of Long Island NY; Grandchildren, Taylor, Justin and Aidan Sachs of Long Island NY; Son Randy (Lisa) Gish of rural St Peter, Mn; Grandchildren, Jacob Gish of North Mankato MN, Jennifer (Jacob) Peterson rural Pemberton MN, Joshua Gish rural St Peter, MN; Brother Keith Gish (LaVonne Mayer) of Winona, MN; Sister Mayonne Stocker of LeSueur, MN; Brother-In-Law Jerome (Lorraine) David; Many Nieces and Nephews.

He was proceeded in death by sons Michael and Ricky; Parents James and Ida Gish; Father and Mother-in-law John and Anna David; Brother and Sister-In-Law Donald (Lucille) Gish; Sister and Brother-In-Law Norma (Glen) Schwichtenberg and Sister Donna June Gish; Sister-in-law Nellie Gish; Brother-in-law Jerry Stocker; Sister-in-law Alice (Harold) Zika; Nieces Nancy Stocker and Debbie Gish; Nephew Rocky Schwichtenberg.

The family would extend special thanks to the Mankato Mayo Health Systems staff for the compassionate care provided to Jerry and shown to his family during his 12 days spent there. 

Jerry was a wonderful husband, Father, grandfather, great grandfather, mentor and friend and will be missed. Blessed be his memory. 

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