Gerald Marvin Kalstabakken passed away peacefully at his Ramsey home on Sunday, January 26, 2020, with family at his side.
Gerald was born June 26, 1932, to Oscar and Frieda (Lundt) Kalstabakken in Orion Township, Olmsted County. Gerald (Jerry) was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Chatfield, Minn. He graduated from Preston High School in 1950. Upon graduation, Jerry worked on his parent’s farm in Chatfield until 1953. He joined the U.S. Army in 1953 and was stationed in Augsburg, Germany, for several years where he trained as a helicopter mechanic. Jerry met the love of his life, Maria Lieselotte (Lottie) Teufele, while he was in Germany. They were married in Augsburg, Germany, on May 14, 1955. Jerry was transferred to Fort Ord, Calif., in 1956, where their first daughter Barbara was born. Following his discharge from the army, the new family moved to Chatfield, Minn., in September 1956, where Jerry began working as an auto mechanic in Rochester. In the spring of 1957, Jerry and Lottie purchased a home in Rochester to be closer to his work. A second daughter, Susan, was born that year and a third daughter, Linda, was born two years later. In November 1960, Jerry and Lottie moved to St. Paul. Another daughter, Cynthia, followed in 1961. Their small home was filling up fast, so they purchased an empty lot adjacent to the home they were renting and built a new home. They moved into their new home in July 1964. Jerry and Lottie were finally blessed with a son, Robert, in 1967. Jerry worked as a mechanic at several Twin City service stations until he opened his own business in 1976, Jerry’s Motor Service on St. Paul’s eastside. In August 1979, Jerry and Lottie moved to Ramsey. Jerry had looked at an antique car there and the owner’s home was for sale as well. The antique car was thrown in to sweeten the deal, and the rest is history. Jerry continued to commute back and forth from Ramsey to his St. Paul business for several years. In 1981, he sold Jerry’s Motor Service and retired. This was short-lived however, as he began a new job at Mate Punch & Die in Ramsey soon after. Jerry retired from Mate in June 1994, and the tinkering continued in his many garages at their home. Jerry and Lottie’s spare time involved going to flea markets, car shows, and swap meets. Even when both had difficulties getting around, they still managed to pack up a box or two and hop in the van to go “sell their stuff,” even if it involved getting up at 4 a.m. to secure a good spot.
Jerry owned more than 700 vehicles in his lifetime. He bought his first new vehicle in 1995, a Dodge Ram truck. His favorite cars were a 1949 GMC pick-up truck that once belonged to his uncle Fred, an orange 1954 Mercury convertible, a 1971 Monte Carlo, and his restored 1941 Plymouth. His final restoration project was a 1965 GMC pick-up truck purchased in California. This project was never completed.
In the summer of 2013, Jerry became very sick and was diagnosed with vasculitis. The disease caused his kidneys to fail and dialysis was initiated. Tinkering in the garage slowed down as he adjusted to his new routine. Jerry was a trooper and a hero throughout his illness. Dialysis continued until three days before his death. He expressed no fears and said that he would miss his family. He loved his wife, Lottie, who cared for him for the past seven years with dedication and strength, and his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren filled a special place in his heart. Being members at Lord of Life Church since 1979 helped the family feel part of an extended family.
Jerry is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Lottie. Daughters: Barbara (Joel) Mielke, Susan Kalstabakken, Linda Kalstabakken, Cynthia Kalstabakken (Paul Pfaff), and son Robert (Angie); grandchildren: Heidi (Mike) Popelka, Anna (Zach) LaPorte, Lisa (Scott) Bazille, Ryan Alme, Neil (Lydia) Breault, and Sara Edwards; great-grand-children: Jordan and Aubrey Popelka, Nixon and Lincoln Bazille, Kara and Malcolm Breault, and Amelia LaPorte. He is also survived by his siblings, sisters Marian Kirchner, JoAnne Finley, Rhonda Greenlee, Helen Pierce, and brother Myron Kalstabakken.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, sister LaVonne Burk, brother Adrian Kalstabakken, and other extended family members.
Funeral service will be Friday, January 31, 2020, at Lord of Life Church, 14501 Nowthen Blvd NW, Ramsey, Minn. 55303, at 2 p.m., with visitation one hour prior and lunch following service.
Memorials preferred to the National Kidney Foundation or Lord of Life Church.
A special thank you is extended to the staff at Fresenius in Coon Rapids.
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