Gerald J. Love

Gerald “Jerry" Love passed away on April 14th, 2022, at his home in Salol, Minnesota. His short battle with pancreatic cancer showed immense courage, strength and will to live to be able to watch his grandchildren grow. Though the battle was tough, he fought hard until the very end and passed away peacefully surrounded by his family. He was 64 years old. 

Jerry was born on October 7, 1957, to Delores (Peterson) and John Love in Crookston, Minnesota. His father worked for Crystal Sugar, and they moved a few times as a child. He attended grade school in Fisher, Minnesota and later moved to Drayton, North Dakota in 1965 and again moved to Hillsboro, North Dakota in 1975. 

As a young adult Jerry traveled, working in the oil fields in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. In Kansas he worked on the pipeline doing specialty coating and in the oil fields. In 1983 he moved back to Grand Forks, North Dakota where he worked a variety of jobs. 

In 1990 he moved to Warroad, Minnesota and started working at Marvin Windows. He started in the plant, moved to customer service and then onto driving truck for them for 30 years. He met the love of his life, Laura, in 1994 and they were united in marriage on May 11th, 1996. They became an instant family with two daughters, Samantha and Sarah. Though he wasn't their biological father, Jerry loved his girls as his own, he was proud! Often the instigator of wild adventures and bad decisions, which drove Laura crazy, he was a fun dad that never told his girls no and spoiled them rotten. He loved traveling to watch their sports, especially basketball, and loved telling the many fun memories he had with the basketball team and their parents. 

Besides being a dad, the only other thing that made Jerry more proud was being a grandpa. He was blessed with seven grandchildren and loved spending as much time as possible with them. Nicknamed “Big Papa" by them, he holds a very large and special place in their hearts. He would've given anything to have been able watch them all grow up and talked about the heartache that comes with missing out on all their special milestones. This was the hardest part of knowing he was leaving us soon. 

Jerry and Laura loved camping with their friends. They would plan several camping trips every year from spring to fall. While camping Jerry's favorite thing to do was go four wheeling and ranger riding and he could never resist the mud. Jerry's second love was his 1965 Impala SS. A true motorhead, Jerry loved his antique cars and was a member of the North Country Cruisers. He loved spending time at the Shed and going to many car shows around the area. He also loved his antique snowmobiles and would spend hours shining them up for snowmobile shows. 

A devoted husband, an amazing father and grandpa, and a friend to everyone. Jerry's passion and love for life was evident in everything he did and held true to the very end. Jerry had a gift to gab and with his loud voice he could often be heard from across the room. Everywhere Jerry went he was striking up a conversation and “bs-ing" with someone. There were no strangers to Jerry, and he made friends all over the country. His carefree and happy attitude made people gravitate towards him. And in Jerry's famous own words he would say as he was leaving, “Darn glad you got to meet me!!" 

Jerry is survived by his loving wife of 25 years, Laura; Daughters, Samantha (Rick) Ness of Warroad, Sarah (Shane) Larson of Roseau; Grandchildren, Keane Russell, Blake Ness, Breanna Ness, Kora Ness of Warroad, Christian Larson, Broden Larson and Hadley Larson of Roseau; Second mom, his Aunt Linda Bogart; sisters Diana (Dennis) Kirkeby of East Grand Forks, Debbie (Merle) Ferry of Finley, ND; many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws. 

Preceded in death by his parents, John and Delores Love; Brother Danny Love; Grandparents, Ernie and Inez Love; Grandma Peterson; Uncle Doug Bogart; Cousin Richard Love; Cousin Travis Goulet; Best friend Wayne Palm. 

A celebration of life in memory of Jerry will be held on May 1st, 2022 at Springsteel Resort, Warroad MN 2pm to 4pm visitation and luncheon 4pm memorial and celebration of life. 

Graveside memorial and burial will be held at the Nesbit Cemetery in Fisher, MN at a later date. 

Our family would like to say a special thank you to hospice, the nurses, social worker and chaplain. 

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