Jerome J. Berczyk

Jerome J. “Jerry” Berczyk, 77, of Willmar, died Monday, October 22nd at St. Cloud Hospital. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 am, Saturday, October 27th at Church of St. Mary in Willmar with visitation one hour prior to the service.Jerry was born March 31, 1941, in Long Prairie, Minnesota, the son of Christian and Katherine (John) Berczyk. He grew up in St. Paul and graduated from St Agnes High School in 1959. For a short time, Jerry owned and operated a garage/service station in St. Paul.In 1978 he moved to Willmar and continued to work in the electronics field until retiring in 2002. On September 24, 1993, he was united in marriage to Lillie Chaney.They spent many vacations traveling the west coast, primarily California, that Jerry loved. His passion was restoring and repairing anything mechanical, especially old John Deere lawn tractors. If you couldn’t find him in his shop he was down by his burn pile sitting on one of his tractors just watching the lake. He was a dedicated son, brother and husband who always thought of others before himself. He will be remembered as a quiet, good natured and humorous person who didn’t care to be in the limelight but would rather be behind the scenes.Surviving are his wife of 25 years, Lillie; sisters, Bea (and Pat) McLaughlin of Scandia and Rose (and Al) Spangenberg of St. Paul; mother-in-law, Melanie Bailey of Willmar; brother-in law, Bob (and Sharon) Bailey; sisters-in-law, Carmen Rohne of Spicer and Joann Bailey of Willmar along with many nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Bernie; father-in-law, Cleveland Bailey and brother-in-law, Galen Rohne.