Gerald "Jerry" Paul Laager

Memorial services for Gerald “Jerry” Laager of Morris, MN will be held Tuesday, September 3, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at Assumption Catholic Church in Morris, with Father Todd Schneider celebrating the mass. Visitation will be Monday from 5 to 7 p.m., with a prayer service at 7:00 at the Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris and for one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Morris.

Gerald was born on December 12th, 1934, in Morris, Minnesota to Fred & Geneva (Pitts) Laager. He was the oldest of his eight siblings and grew up on the family farm west of Donnelly. Gerald attended District 44 School, Alberta, and furthered his education at West Central Agricultural School. Gerald met the love of his life Kay (Balluff) in 1958 and the happy couple were married on July 9th, 1960. After living in Hopkins, Minnesota for two years, the newlyweds moved to the family farm where they raised their three daughters Cheryl, Renee, and Chris. 

Gerald was a fulltime farmer for 35 years while also working at the ASCS office in Morris where he was awarded “The Administrator’s Award for Service to Agriculture” in 1990. He and Kay were flown to Washington D.C. to accept Gerald’s honorable award. He also served our country in the National Guards from 1960-1966 and was on the Morris Co-Op board for two terms.

In 1997, Gerald retired and moved to Morris. Fishing, gardening, card playing and morning coffee with his friends were some of his favorite pastimes. There isn’t a lake in Minnesota that Gerald couldn’t tell you about and could even tell you all the walleye hot spots if you were lucky enough for him to share his secrets. His annual winter ice fishing trip to Lake of the Woods and summer fishing with the Iowa gang were two highlights of the year. If you didn’t find Gerald in his boat in the summer, you would find him in his beautiful garden where he raised enough produce to feed the county. He loved sharing his goodies with his family and friends. Gerald and Kay spent most summer weekends at their seasonal camper at Brophy Bay in Alexandria. They enjoyed visiting with other family members and friends at Brophy and would spend most days fishing and evenings playing cards on their screened in patio. 

Gerald also enjoyed watching sports. He cheered on the Minnesota Vikings, Twins and the Golden Gophers and would attend as many of his grandchildren and great grandchildren’s sporting events that he could. He was their number one fan! 

Gerald Paul Laager, dedicated husband, father, grandpa, brother and uncle passed away peacefully, after a courageous battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia at his home at Skyview Court on August 27th at the age of 89. Gerald is survived by his wife of 64 years, Kay, his three daughters, Cheryl (Tom) of Maple Lake, MN, Renee (Parker) of Glenwood, MN, Chris (Todd) of Maple Plain, MN. Six grandchildren, Jessica (Luke) Amundson, Jacob (Kasey) Spalding, Nick Kloos, Mandi (Kyle) Koehntop, Ammy Archer, and Sean Brousseau. Twelve great grandchildren, Kinley, Kamden, Carsten, Lylah, Jensen, Nova, Brooklyn, Briella, Kallan, Britta, Harrison and Evelyn. Siblings, Dick Laager, Sandy (Ronald) Lemmerman, Joyce Laager, Dean (Kathy) Laager and several nieces and nephews. 

Gerald is preceded in death by his parents Fred and Geneva Laager; stepmother Thelma Laager; sisters Diane Boldenow; Ethel Mae Hallberg; brothers David Laager; Daniel Laager. 

A special thank you to Gerald’s care team at Skyview Court and Knute Nelson Hospice who wrapped their arms around all of us in Gerald’s final days. 

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorial to local charities.