Gerald Arthur "Jerry" Strickland

Gerald "Jerry" Arthur Strickland, age 82, passed away peacefully at home in Burnsville, MN on December 1, 2025 after a long journey with lung cancer complicated by Parkinson's disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Jerry was born May 3, 1943 in Huntington, Long Island, New York to Lillian Christine Lindstadt of Northport, L.I., NY and Gerald Clifton Strickland of Nicholson, PA. From age 1 to 5 Jerry and family lived in El Centro, CA, returning to Long Island in 1949 and settling in Levittown, NY in 1951. Jerry graduated from Levittown Memorial High School in 1962. As a young person, he had a Newsday paper route, participated in the Boy Scouts and DeMolay, and played high school soccer. After high school Jerry served in the U.S. Navy from 1963-1967 as a Machinist's Mate Third Class aboard the USS Hermitage based in Little Creek, VA. His shipmates nicknamed him "The Weasel" for his ability to fit into tight places in the engine room. He sailed in the Caribbean, Panama Canal Zone, and visited Spain. Jerry married Susan Talbot Hale on January 20,1968 in East Meadow, NY. The couple moved to Chicago, IL where they resided in Lansing, Berwyn, and later purchased a home in Mokena, IL. Jerry was employed by United Airlines at Chicago-O'Hare where he worked
as an air freight/customer service agent from 1968-1984. In 1984 Jerry transferred to Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport where he worked until retiring from United Airlines in 2003.

Jerry loved Minnesota in all seasons; his favorite activities were fishing, especially walleye fishing at Lake Mille Lacs and ice fishing at Lake of the Woods, as well as bird hunting. He also enjoyed doo-wop music, cribbage, cards, Western movies, and growing hosta plants. He had a talent for fixing things and his hobbies were carpentry, car repair, and small engine repair of lawnmowers and Cub Cadet tractors. He loved antiques, Jeeps, classic cars, seafood, a good prime rib dinner, pie, Butterfinger bars, chocolate malts, and brandy Manhattans.

Jerry will be dearly missed and is survived by wife Susan of 57 years; daughters, Laura Strickland (Scott Smolarczyk) of Englewood, CO and Ellen Strickland (William Storck) of Waupaca, WI; brother, Lanny Strickland (Catherine) of Middleburg, Florida; three grandchildren, Lily Smolarczyk, Liam and Emma Storck; many nieces and nephews; and a caring community of long-time friends and neighbors. He is preceded in death by his parents; two brothers Stanley and Ronald Strickland; and sister Margaret "Peggie" Campbell.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Jerry's care team at Mayo Clinic over the years and to Allina Hospice. A Celebration of Jerry's life will be held locally in spring/summer 2026.