Gerald “Jerry” Pauly, age 76, of Jordan, MN, entered eternal peace on Tuesday, December 29, 2020, at the Belle Plaine Lutheran Home.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, January 5, at 11 am, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 313 Second Street , Jordan . Masks are required and guests may arrive after 10:30 am and immediately be seated in the church. Guest may also join via live streaming, by visiting sjbjordan.org and clicking on the live stream tab. Father Neil Bakker will preside. Jerry will be laid to rest at St. Joseph ’s Catholic Cemetery, in rural Jordan.
Gerald Albert was born on September 5, 1944, in Shieldsville , MN , to Que n tin and Luella (Theis) Pauly. He was the second of six children , growing up on the family dairy farm that his g reat g randpa Jacob Pauly homesteaded , in the St . Joseph area . Jerry attended St . Jo e’s country grade school and f urthered his education at Jordan High School. When the farm work was done, he enjoyed fishing at this grandfather’s cabin on Fish Lake , in rural Prior Lake, MN .
At the age of 20 , Jerry’s father passed and for the next few years, he remained committed in helping the family tend ing to the daily farm tasks . Jerry later worked at Crystal Sugar , in Chaska, MN, at the Belle Plaine Sales Barn, and part time for 12 ½ years at the Cologne Pavi lion catering weddings and banquets , along with his bride at his side. M ost of his career was at Thermal King , in Bloomington , MN . After 21 years with working the assembly line , he retired !
Life was enriched for Jerry meeting Ramona Ruschke ( Soeffker ), through mutual friends. They started courting and on June 2, 1973, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church , Jerry and Ramona wedded . H is family immediately included Ramona’s children, Kim, Kelli , Karri and Kent. A year after being married, Jerry and Ramona we re blessed with a son, Jayson. Family always was the center of Jerry’s life. When he was not working and providing for his family, they enjoyed the annual family vacation to Crosby, MN, celebrating the Fourth of July . Jerry also was involved in Jayson ’s racing events, in the Hobby Stock Racing at Arlington Raceway Park and watching the demolition derbies at the Scott County Fair.
As a couple, Jerry and Ramona were fortunate to have created many friends hips through Thermal King. This venture allowed them to enjoy each other company on excursions around Minnesota and even to Las Vegas. In Jerry’s free time, he enjoyed trying his luck at the slot machines and having great conversations with his buddy’s at Clancy’s Bar and Grill, where they would all catch up on the latest news. He was proud of his wife and children, but it was his grandchildren that brought him so much joy. Jerry was interested in what they were doing and tri ed to remain active in their lives.
The last several years, Jerry’s health has declined . But through all of life’s trials and tribulation , he worked and played hard. Jerry loved his family unconditionally and enjoyed nurturing and caring for them all.
Forever loved, Jerry will be sadly missed by wife of 47 years , Ramona ; children, Jayson (Cyndi) Pauly, Kim Soeffker (Franc Garcia) , Kelli Williams, Karri (Roman) Symanitz , Kent (Mary Beth) Soeffker ; grandchildren, Randy Symanitz , Ben (Jenna) Symantiz , Joe Symantiz , Aaron Williams, Mariah Williams, Emily Soeffker , Allison Soeffker , Donavon Soeffker , Patrick Garcia ; siblings, Sally Pauly, Richard (Sharon) Pauly, Sandy (Nathan) Wittenberg; other rel a tives and friends.
Greeting Jerry home in Heaven is his grandson, Michael Symanitz ; parents Quentin and Luella ; brothers, Roger Paul y, and Donald Pauly .
