Dwight E. Jaeger

Dwight Edison Jaeger died July 29, of pancreatic cancer. Memorial services will be at 11:00 AM on Friday, August 22, 2025 at Salem Lutheran Church in St. Cloud. Visitation will be from 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM Friday morning at the church. Arrangements have been entrusted to Williams Dingmann Funeral Home, St. Cloud.

Son of Hulda (Shütz) and Arthur Jaeger, Dwight grew up in the southern Minnesota town of Darfur, where his father was postmaster and ran the Jaeger General Store.

He spent his early years hunting pheasant, fishing for catfish, and playing nine-man football at Comfrey High School. Graduating in the class of 1949, Dwight went on to Gustavus Adolphus College ('53) where he studied chemistry and met his future wife Audrey Anderson ('55). After their 1956 marriage, and his 1957 graduation from the University of Minnesota medical school, he joined the U.S. Army, serving for two years as a medical officer in Karlsruhe, Germany. Returning to Minnesota after his discharge, he worked for his uncle Dr. Elmer Shütz, in southern Minnesota, before moving back to the Twin Cities for his residency in orthopedics at the VA and Shriners hospitals. In 1966, he joined Drs. Joseph Zeleny and Edward LaFond as the third member of St. Cloud Orthopedics Associates, where he practiced until his retirement in 1998. In 1973-4 he was chief of staff at St. Cloud Hospital. He, Audrey, and their three children lived in the (then) small village of Sartell. They joined Salem Lutheran in St. Cloud, where they were active members for over fifty years, with Dwight serving repeatedly on the church council, including as president. He also served on the executive board of the Lutheran Church in America, Minnesota Synod (1982-1987), on the Board of Trustees at Gustavus (1990-1999), on the Board of Trustees at St. Cloud Hospital (1976-1985) as well as on the board of the CentraCare Foundation (2008-2014). On winter weekends, he skied with his family at Powder Ridge and Lutsen. Summer leisure time was spent at the family cabin on Big Birch Lake, sailing and pulling the kids on water skis.

In retirement, Dwight enjoyed his grandchildren and many, many rounds of golf. Dwight loved his family, his church, and Gustavus; he loved the Vikings and Twins; cars, classical music, and Prairie Home Companion; he loved good food and good wine; skiing, golf, travel with family and friends, and teaching small grandchildren to drive the pontoon boat Lazy Bones.

He is survived by his wife, Audrey, brother Arthur (Sherry) and sister Patricia (Louis) Banitt, as well as son, David (Sharon) of St. Paul, daughter Mary (Malcolm Wilson) of Eugene, OR, and Ann (Scott) Malm of St. Paul, as well as grandchildren Alex, Carrie, Seth, Matthew, Soren, Thomas, and Karina. He was preceded in death by his brother Quentin (Fay), and sisters, Gladys (August) Goltz and Carol (Kenneth) Mays

The family suggests that in lieu of flowers memorials be sent to CentraCare Foundation or to Lutheran Social Services.