Gerald " Jerry" Johnson

Gerald “Jerry” Johnson, age 84, of Blue Earth, MN, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in the presence of loved ones. 

Visitation will be from 4PM-6PM on Friday August 23 and a memorial service will take place 11AM Saturday, August 24, 2024, both at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blue Earth, MN. Patton Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. 

Jerry was born to Roy and Marie Johnson on August 5, 1939, in his parents’ home in New London, MN.  Growing up, he played basketball and football, and was in the school choir. He hauled gravel during the summers of 1956 and 1957, and helped his uncle Oliver with farming in the springtime.  After graduating from New London High School in 1957, Jerry moved to Bloomington, MN, and began his career as a manufacturing engineer at Viking of Minneapolis, which would later be known as Telex. On April 9, 1960, he married Ruthy Nordberg, his high school sweetheart and love of his life. To this union, five children were born. In 1967, Telex transferred the Johnsons to Blue Earth. Jerry retired in 2004, after 47 years of employment. At that time, he was proud to be Telex’s longest-tenured employee. Jerry often commented that he never considered his job as “work”, because he loved every day of it!

As a young adult, Jerry enjoyed playing on slow-pitch softball and bowling leagues. He also loved to golf, travel, and camp with his family, and enjoyed many fishing trips up north with his buddies Ken, Dean and Marv.  He could often be found playing cards, yard games, or "monster" with his kids and grandkids, and rarely missed an opportunity to cheer for their teams or hum along with their choirs - even traveling hours to ensure his seat was claimed. 

Anytime Jerry was asked “how are you”, his response was “Perfect!”  He made the world’s best pancakes for his family, and often for friends of the grandkids as well. He had a knack for flipping pancakes and doing a little jig all at once. He was a woodworker and made countless beautiful household items and mechanical squirrel feeders over the years, always finishing them off with his signature stamp and date.  He loved the outdoors and enjoyed watching wildlife and feeding birds - especially hummingbirds and orioles.  He had a passion for mowing the grass and spent countless hours on his lawn tractor.

Forever cherishing the wonderful memories of Jerry are his son Greg (Naomi Kiehm) Johnson of New London, MN, and their children, Anna Johnson, Renee (David) & son Benjamin Richards, and Sarah Johnson; daughter Deb (Dave) Olson of Blue Earth, MN, and their children, Jacob and Bethany Olson; son Chuck (Kristi Lahti) Johnson of Minneapolis, MN, and their children, Emma and Owen Johnson; son Neil (Brenda Solarz) Johnson of Rogers, MN, and their children, Sami (Carl) Parent and Maddie Johnson; and daughter Bekki (Stacy) Howard of Blue Earth, MN, and their children, Reegan, Will, Arika, and Britt Howard; brother, Dwight (Carol) Johnson of Glenwood, MN; Ruthy’s sister, Randi Olson and brother Curt (LuJean) Nordberg, all of Anoka, MN, and her brother Terry (Nancy) Nordberg of Brooklyn Park, MN, and many Johnson and Nordberg nieces and nephews.

Jerry is preceded in death by his wife, Ruthy, in 2020; parents Roy and Marie Johnson; parents-in-law Art and Esther Nordberg; sister-in-law Rose Chesness and her husband Virgil. 

The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to UHD and the Home Health/Hospice department.  In lieu of flowers, donations to UHD Hospice are preferred.