Gerald Arden Inglebret

Gerald Arden Inglebret, age 90, of Cresco, Iowa, passed away on January 17, 2024, at the Evans Memorial Home in Cresco.

Gerald was born February 14, 1933, in York Township, Fillmore County, Minn., to John W. and Alma (Birkeland) Inglebret. He was baptized at home and was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church for services, Sunday School and confirmation.

He was raised on the family’s farm and attended rural school at York and graduated from Harmony High School in 1951. 

Gerald was inducted into the United States Army in 1953 and was in Japan for 16 months. He enjoyed traveling and visiting Lutheran Missionaries while serving in the military. He was discharged in 1955. 

In 1957 he attended Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, but after a year decided to become an Industrial Arts teacher. He transferred to Mankato State College, Mankato, Minn., to work toward a degree. 

On August 8, 1959, he married Annette Marie Johnson at Bloomfield Lutheran Church in rural Ostrander, Minn. Their first home was in North Mankato, Minn., while Gerald completed his degree in Industrial Arts Teaching in 1960. They moved to Tripoli, Iowa, where he taught high school Industrial Arts and Government for three years. Then, they moved to Readlyn, Iowa where he taught Industrial Arts at Wapsie Valley High School for 15 years.  In 1968, a daughter, Julie, was born to Gerald and Annette. In 1979, Gerald, Annette and Julie moved back to Gerald’s home place in Minnesota, where he built their home that he and Annette enjoyed for 38 years.  Also in 1979, he began working at Harmony Enterprises, Inc., Harmony, Minn., as a draftsman, and later served as the accountant for HECO. He retired in 2000 after 20 years. Gerald continued to farm throughout this time, retiring from farming in 2004.

Gerald was a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Granger, Minn. He served on various council positions and as a church coordinator for AAL and Thrivent for Lutherans for several years. He enjoyed his family and friends. He also enjoyed short trips with his loving wife and Julie for many years. In 2018, Gerald and Annette moved to Cresco Assisted Living in Cresco, Iowa after living on the farm for 38 years.

He is survived by his wife Annette (married for 64 years), daughter Julie (Charles) Houlton and two grandsons, Alex and Andrew.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Lyle.

(Gerald chose to write his own obituary, taking time to make special revisions in the last couple of years.)

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, January 23, 2024 at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Granger, Minn., with Pastor Jeffrey Jacobs officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will take place in the Bloomfield Lutheran Cemetery in rural Ostrander, Minn. Lindstrom Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.