Gerald A. Lundeen
Gerald Lundeen Obituary
Surrounded by his loving family Gerald Arthur “Jerry” Lundeen passed away peacefully at the age of 93 on Saturday, April 3rd, 2021 while in hospice care at Divine Rehabilitation and Nursing at St. Croix in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin. Jerry was born the eldest son of the late Arthur and Clara (née Carlson) Lundeen on August 22nd, 1927 in Milwaukee, WI. His parents were natives of Harris, MN and in 1931 they returned to Harris to farm. Raised in Harris, Jerry began his education in 1933 at Rush City School. In 1937 he continued his grades 5-8 schooling at Fish Lake Elementary School (District 52) and completed his high school education at North Branch High School where he and seven of his Classmates, having enlisted in the United Sates Navy, had an early graduation in February with the Class of 1945. Following completion of Navy basic training at Great Lakes Naval Station, he completed Navy Radioman (RM) A School at Naval Base Pearl Harbor and then served as a Radioman 3/c at Naval Base Buckner Bay, Okinawa. Jerry was honorably discharged and worked as an assembler for Allis Chalmers Manufacturing Company, later as a railroad telegrapher for Chicago and Northwestern Railroad and then for the U. S. Postal service from which after thirty years of service in North Saint Paul and White Bear Lake, MN, he retired in 1986. Upon retirement, Jerry worked ten years more as a limousine driver at Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation in Center City, MN. On October 18th, 1952 Jerry married the love of his life, Marlys Wilcox, in Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church at Lake Crystal, MN and they raised five children while living first in Saint Paul and then in Center City. Upon moving to Center City, Jerry began his passion for gardening and planted and worked a one-acre vegetable garden for over thirty years, while Marlys enjoyed canning, freezing and pickling the produce. His second passion was crossword puzzles as well as any and all word puzzles, which he continued to work until only shortly before his death. Jerry also enjoyed woodworking and built such things as birdhouses, decorative wishing wells, utility trailers, and picnic tables for his extended family and a grandfather clock that was his pride and joy. On September 18th, 1958 Jerry was initiated into Montgomery Masonic Lodge No. 258 in St. Paul, and on November 15th, 1958 was raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason. Upon relocating to Center City in 1966, he transferred his membership to Hiram Masonic Lodge No. 287 in Lindstrom, MN. On October 12th, 2012 he received the Hiram Award for his commitment and dedication to Hiram Lodge and the fraternity, and in November, 2018 he was awarded a certificate for sixty years of faithful and loyal membership. Jerry was also a longtime member of Harris American Legion Post 139, which was established on July 16th, 1919. His father, Arthur, was a Charter Member and the Post’s last WWI member at the time of his death in 1995.
Jerry was a loving son, brother, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather; friends with many; and a joy to all he met. He was preceded in death by his parents and two grandchildren: Trevor Lundeen and Mason Lundeen. He is survived by his loving wife: Marlys, his children: Gary (Beth) Lundeen, Debra Lundeen, Barbara Hansen (Dave Melgren), Gregory (Dottie) Lundeen and James (Jen) Lundeen, his brothers: Merle, Harley and Richard (Norma Jean) Lundeen, 15 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He is dearly missed but remains with us in memories we hold fast.
A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, April 9th at the Sunrise Cemetery in Sunrise, MN where a Masonic Ceremony and Military Honors will be accorded him. Visitation will be held from 3-7 p.m. Thursday, April 8th at the Rausch-Lundeen Funeral Home in Cameron, WI. Arrangements are with Rausch-Lundeen Funeral Homes, Cameron & Dallas, WI.
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