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December 11, 2012

Gerald A. "Jerry" Beske

— Gerald A. "Jerry" Beske, 80, of Redwood Falls died Thursday, December 6, 2012, at the VA Medical Center in St. Cloud. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, December 14, 2012, from Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Redwood Falls. Military honors will be held following the service. Burial will be held on Saturday, December 15, 2012, at 1 p.m., at Evergreen Cemetery in Backus. Visitation will be held Thursday, December 13, 2012, from 4 until 7 p.m., at Nelson-Martin Funeral Home in Redwood Falls and will continue at the church on Friday for one hour prior to services.

  Arrangements are with Nelson-Martin Funeral Service of Redwood Falls. E-mail condolences may be sent via www.nelsonmartinfuneral service.com.

  Gerald Arthur Beske, the son of Edwin and Ida (Hanson) Beske, was born April 23, 1932 in Bird Island. He received his elementary and high school education in Bird Island. Jerry served his country in the United States Navy during and after the Korean War. Following his honorable discharge, he ran the family gravel business in Atwater. Jerry earned a bachelors degree in teaching and a masters degree in special education from St. Cloud State College. His first teaching job was teaching special education at Albany, Minnesota. From there, the family moved to Decorah, Iowa where Jerry worked as a coordinator for special education services. In 1980, the Beske family moved to Redwood Falls where Jerry continued to work as a child study coordinator in area schools for the Educational Cooperative Service Unit.

  In July 1964, Jerry married Barbara Duke and they had two sons, Timothy and Thomas. Jerry was a loving grandfather to his three grandchildren. He enjoyed Saturday morning breakfast with grandson Taylor at McDonalds; his granddaughters, Jenith and Ella, loved to climb on Jerrys lap and tell him their secrets. He also enjoyed morning coffee with his friends and talking to folks around the country via his ham radio.

  Jerry spent the last 15 months at the VA Medical Center in St. Cloud where he was treated for heart disease and dementia. He suffered a broken hip in November and contracted pneumonia a few days before he passed away.

  Jerry is survived by his sons Tim (Robin) Beske, and Tom Beske; and grandchildren Taylor, Jenith, and Ella  all of Redwood Falls; his sister Carol of Titusville, Florida; and many Hanson and Beske cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Donald, and his wonderful wife, Barbara, who passed away just a year ago this month.

  Blessed be his memory.

 

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