Gerald Hodgkins

Gerald S. "Jerry" Hodgkins, age 68 of Waseca, died on Thursday, January 13, 2011 at his daughter's home in Pemberton, Minnesota. Funeral services will be held on Monday, January 17th at 11:00 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Waseca with Rev. Roger Haug, officiating. Interment with military honors will follow in the Woodville Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Sunday from 3 to 6:30 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Waseca, and will continue on Monday morning for one hour prior to services, at church. McRaith Funeral Home & Crematory of Waseca is handling arrangements.  Gerald Sylvan was born on January 10, 1943 in Waseca, Minnesota to Sylvan and Irene (Davis) Hodgkins. Following his graduation from Waldorf High School, Jerry entered military service in the United States Army. Jerry served in Vietnam until his honorable discharge on November 23, 1966. That same year Jerry moved to Waseca and began working at E.F. Johnson Co. He was united in marriage to Donna Tegmeier on September 21, 1968 in Waseca. They later divorced. On December 3, 1976 he married Julie Ann Baer at Grace Lutheran Church in Waseca. Jerry retired from Brown Printing Company in 2005 after 38 years of service. Following his retirement Jerry kept busy providing lawn care for Birds Eye, and as a greeter at Wal-Mart in Waseca. Jerry was a longtime member of Grace Lutheran Church in Waseca, Waseca Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #3753, Waseca American Legion Post #228, and Waseca V.F.W. Sweet-Sommers Post #1642. As a member of both military service clubs, Jerry was proud to serve as part of the funeral military honors unit. He enjoyed socializing with friends, at Happy Chef, Pheasant Café, and Johnny Beans. He also enjoyed woodworking, and detailing vehicles.  He is survived by his sons Robert (Michelle) Hodgkins of Farmington, Brent (Dallas) Hodgkins of Farmington, David (Traci) Hodgkins of Waseca; by his daughters Jolene Held of Shakopee, and Kristine (Matt) Lynch of rural Pemberton; by 14 grandchildren; by his brother Dale (Nancy) Hodgkins of Rochester; by his sisters-in-law Kathy Hodgkins of Waldorf, Lisa Baer, Jenny Baer, Emily Brunow, and his brothers-in-law Bill Baer and Craig Baer; by many nieces and nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; by his wife Julie on June 4, 2004 and his brother Dave in 2002.  Casketbearers are: Troy Hodgkins, Trent Hodgkins, Tony Hodgkins, Matt Baer, Steven Held, Jim Ness, and Scott Tryba. Honorary casketbearers are Jerry's grandchildren.