Jerome “Jerry” Gagnon

Obituary

Jerome “Jerry” Pierre Gagnon was born on May 18, 1958, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was the son of Edmond and Marlys (Juth) Gagnon. Jerry was baptized as an infant on June 1, 1958, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Edina, Minnesota. Jerry received his 1^st Communion in April of 1966 and was later confirmed in his faith as a youth on May 19, 1968, both at the Church of the Ascension in Norwood Young America, Minnesota. Jerry received his education in Norwood Young America and was a graduate of Central High School with the class of 1976. He was named Homecoming King in his senior year. Jerry was athletic and loved his sports. He lettered in Football, Wrestling, and Track multiple times. Later in life, he attended The Golf Academy of the South in Orlando, Florida, and graduated in 2004 receiving an Occupational Associate Degree in Golf Complex Operations and Management.

On October 13, 1990, Jerry was united in marriage to Colleen Gray at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Hamburg. After their marriage, the couple resided in Buffalo, Minnesota. Jerry and Colleen were blessed with two children, Beauregard and Brooke. They shared 34 years of marriage.

Jerry was first employed at Dana Corporation in Plymouth, Minnesota. He traveled all over the world performing manufacturing audits at various companies. Jerry worked there for 25 years. For a few years in the mid-2000s, Jerry managed two golf courses; Rivers Edge in Watertown, Minnesota, and Buffalo Heights in Buffalo, Minnesota. Most recently he was employed at CB Machining and Engineering in Buffalo, and they have been beyond supportive during this difficult journey.

Jerry was a true family man, championing his kids in all their athletic and musical endeavors, and greeting Colleen with a daily holler of “Honey! I’m home!” Annual camping trips and frequent card games were just a few of the ways he brought the Gagnon household together – and usually left them laughing. Jerry was an avid golfer and a great pool player. He collected countless trophies in pool tournaments, one of which included a first-place finish at Buffalo Days. Jerry loved to play cards; he would deliver the same advice to his wife, kids, or son-in-law when they failed to dethrone him at the card table “Bid your hand!” He loved getting to know people, perusing the daily newspaper, and hunting for morning corn dogs at the State Fair. Jerry refused to let his grandkids pass him by without a “whisker rub.” Wherever he was, he left his mark. Jerry cherished the time he spent with his family and friends; whether it was spending the day on the lake or going to the Minnesota Gophers football games.

Jerry passed away on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at United Hospital in St. Paul at the age of 66 years. Blessed be his memory.

Jerry is survived by his:
Wife, Colleen Gagnon of Buffalo, MN;
Children, Beauregard Gagnon of Buffalo, MN, and Brooke Benjamin and her husband, Cody, of Red Wing, MN;
Grandchildren, Emmanuel Benjamin and Effie Benjamin;
Mother, Marlys Gagnon of Waconia, MN;
Siblings, Diane Harms of St. Peter, MN,
               Jacqui Trapp and her husband, Dave, of Buffalo, MN,
               Denise Whittier of Ankeny, IA,
               Richard Gagnon of Big Lake, MN,
               Daniel Gagnon and his wife, Toni, of Chanhassen, MN,
               Michelle Krona and her husband, Tom, of Rosemount, MN;
Brothers-in-law, Jim Gray and his wife, Connie, of Dassel, MN, Jon Gray and his wife, Dana, of Bradenton, FL;
Many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Jerry was preceded in death by his Father, E. Jacques “Jack” Gagnon; Brothers, Michael Gagnon, and Russell Gagnon; Father-in-law and Mother-in-law, Terry and Mary Gray; Brother-in-law, DeVern Harms; Grandparents, Edmond and Mildred (Whittier) Gagnon, Victor and Anna (Kronman) Juth; Aunts and Uncles, Helen and Allen McKenzie, Harriet and Harold Melchisedech, Willard and Lois (Kirchoff) Juth, Gary Juth, Joanne Gagnon; Great-Great-Niece, Harper Diel.

The family invites everyone downstairs to the luncheon immediately following the committal service.