Gerald “Jerry” Lee Smidt, 73, died Monday, May 6, 2024 at his home.
Gerald was born on May 25, 1950 to Clovis and Dorothy (Stevenson) Smidt at a Mid Wife house in Stewartville, MN. He graduated from Stewartville High School in 1968 and attended Winona State. He was married to Rose Mary (Baker) Dobson from 1968 to 1975. They had two sons, Jason and Josh. Gerald was a Vietnam Veteran E-5 SGT Artillery and military service November 28, 1969 to November 27, 1975. Jerry’s work career was being a handyman, drywall mud and taper, carpenter, and self-employed.
He liked dancing and singing with his life partner, Patty, who passed a few years ago from cancer. Jerry liked card games, Poker, cribbage, 500 Poker league and Saturday at the Legion in Stewartville. Jerry loved to play volleyball, basketball, softball, pool billiards, darts even racquetball.
Jerry is survived by his sons, Jason (Jessica) Smidt of Rochester, MN and Joshua (Cori) of Rochester, MN; sisters, Shirley Luedke of Anchorage, AK and Kathleen Crace of Peterson, MN; grandchildren, Logan Smidt, Kasey Brogan, Arianna McCall, Gabreila Smidt, Alexandra Brogan, Mya Lettner, Jacob Smidt, and Jason MC Smidt; great grandchildren, Jason Smidt, Ethan McLeod, Jaxon Smidt, Remington Smidt, Charlotte Brogan, and Lieghton McCall.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clovis and Dorothy Smidt; brothers, Glen, Arnold, and Kenneth; and his long time life partner, Patty Del Santonos.
Celebration of Life will be on Saturday, May 25 at Stewartville American Legion, 1100 2nd Avenue NW, Stewartville, MN from 1-4pm. Funeral Service will be on Tuesday, May 28 at MN State Veterans Cemetery-Preston, 715 US-52, Preston, MN at 3pm.
We ask you to return to them the favor of your blessing, a gift we on our own could never offer. We ask that you would give our veterans a peace beyond the peace they fought to secure, a peace in their own hearts, wrapped in the joy of a life touched by your strong hand. In Jesus we pray, Amen.
You were a Good Man, Jerry.