Visitation

Visitation

Funeral Service

Gerald “Jerry” Koosmann was born May 26, 1943, in Appleton, Minnesota, the son of George and Esther (Oberhammer) Koosmann.  He was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran – Fairfield Township and confirmed at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.

Jerry lived almost his entire life in Hegbert Township, rural Appleton, until he moved to Appleton in 2007. He attended the township grade school and then graduated from Appleton High School in 1961.  On August, 15, 1970, Jerry married Martha “Marty” Gulick in Egan, South Dakota. They were blessed with two children, Anita and Aaron.  Jerry represented the third generation to live and work on the family farm. He raised wheat, corn, soybeans, cattle and hogs. He even experimented in aquaculture. Occasionally he planted sunflowers and flax because Marty liked how beautiful those crops looked in the field.

Jerry had the skills to fix anything that broke and an uncanny ability to identify poorly engineered machinery that needed attention before it broke. His love for the land was visible in every action. He willingly gave tractor rides to family members, friends and even foreign journalists. More than once, he brought a baby pig into the house entryway so that a visitor could experience the miracle of the baby animal’s squeals and velvety fuzz.  A stubborn German, Jerry valued hard work, kindness and loyalty. He technically retired in 2005, passing on the farm to his son, the fourth generation.

Jerry was a great storyteller who could spin a tale so meandering that his listeners didn’t always remember the original point of the story, but were nonetheless deeply entertained. He lived a faith- and service-filled life, volunteering in several roles at Good Shephard Lutheran Church and Zion Lutheran Church. He served as Hegbert Town board supervisor and was on the Swift County Planning Commission. He also was a member of Jaycees and a 4-H leader.  Family always came first to Jerry. Every spring, he picked Pasque flowers from the native pasture for Marty. He was proud of his children and adored his four grandchildren.

Jerry, age 73, died on June 25, 2016. He is survived by his wife of nearly 46 years, Martha “Marty”; daughter, Anita and her husband, Lloyd Hoffarth Jr., and grandchildren, Paden and Ian, of Kindred, North Dakota; son, Aaron, and his wife, Christine (Scheff) Koosmann, and grandchildren Robert Jack (RJ) and Reese, of Appleton; sister Arleen and her husband, James Hollenhorst; sisters- and brothers-in-law: Carol and John Simons, Kathryn and Murray Johnson; nieces and nephews: Natalea Elvecrog (daughters Ashakele and Aliyah), Joseph Elvecrog, Brianna Elvecrog Gaddes and husband Kamren (son Emmett), Robin Mills (son Trevor and daughter Natalie), Dr. Peter Hollenhorst and wife Dr. Heather Hundley (sons Evan and Bryce), Andrew Hollenhorst and wife Christine Pirani Hollenhorst (daughter Nina and son Miles), Margaret Hollenhorst Edwards (daughter Genevieve), Matthew Johnson, Christine Johnson-Sundby and wife Rene Sundby (daughter Ellie); other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Esther Koosmann; sister Carol Elvecrog; brother-in-law Dean Elvecrog; parents-in-law Robert and Ruby Gulick; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.