Jerome Waldow

Jerome (Jerry) Alvin Waldow passed away on Nov 22nd 2013 at the age of 78. Jerome was born to Alvin & Louise Waldow on Dec 30th, 1934 in West St Paul, MN. Alvin & Louise bought a small dairy farm near Moose Lake, MN when Jerry was 9. He attended school there from 5th grade to 12th grade graduation in 1952.

Upon graduation Jerry attended Concordia Seminary College in St Paul for a year while working nights. Jerry returned to the family farm at Moose Lake to help with the farming and also worked at the Kettle River Co-op as the produce manager and hauled milk to the Co-op Creamery in the mornings before starting work.

Jerry was drafted into the US Army in 1955 and was stationed in Germany. After being discharged in 1957, he went to work in Duluth for Retail Credit Co and was transferred to the Virginia, MN office where he met Marlene Kampii at a dance. After being transferred to Brainerd, MN Jerome and Marlene were married in 1958 and had 4 children together before divorcing.

Jerry held jobs with Travelers Insurance Co and Potlatch Papermill. He also attended Brainerd Community College and was active in Community Theater productions. He later went to work for MN Dept of Revenue where he remained for 30 years until retiring. During his last years of service with MN Dept of Revenue, Jerry was also the Chief Negotiator for his union MAPE and served as a consultant for a few years after retirement.

In June of 1975 Jerry married Diane Johnson who had 3 children of her own and blended their families in a Brady Bunch fashion. After a long bout with cancer, Diane passed away in July 1993 at the age of 47.

In 1994 Jerry met Sharon Dahle at a square dance. He moved to Alexandria where Sharon lived and they bought a place in Pharr, TX to spend the winters together. Jerry and Sharon were lifelong companions and danced and traveled the world together.

Jerry enjoyed nature, hunting, reading, card games, singing in the choir, traveling and dancing until health issues prevented him from participating. He was also active in the church council at Trinity Lutheran Church in Brainerd.

Jerome was preceded in death by his parents, brothers John and David, sons Baby Boy Waldow and Steven, daughter Julie, wife Diane and former wife Marlene Foster. He is survived by his daughter Sherri Hane, sister Jane Gerard, Grandaughters Ashley Hane and Rani Foster, Grandson Gabriel Wick, step children, Troy, Leah and Shem Johnson, 3 nieces, 2 nephews and his companion of 20 years Sharon Dahle and her children, Denise Baker, Mark Dahle and Doren Dahle, her 7 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

Services will be held on Saturday at 11AM at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Alexandria with visitation 1 hr prior to the service. Arrangements have been entrusted to Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter, MN.