Gerald ‘Jerry’ Craig Wedell

Jerry was born November 26, 1946 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the first child and only son of Kenneth and Irene (nee Kallio) Wedell.

Jerry graduated in 1964 from Simley High School in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. He attended the University of Minnesota.

In 1967, Jerry enlisted in the Marine Corps. Following boot camp at San Diego and infantry training at Camp Pendleton, Jerry was assigned to the Naval Air Station at Jacksonville, Florida for six months of Aviation Electrician School. He was assigned to the Marine Corps Air Station in Tustin, California for 17 months, then Marble Mountain Air Facility, South Vietnam, on the South China Sea from October 1969 to October 1970. While at Marble Mountain, he maintained TACAN, electronic “black boxes,” which gives pilots navigational information. While in Vietnam, Jerry was promoted to the rank of Sergeant E-5. He spent the last seven months of his service stationed at Marine Corps Air Station in Cherry Point, N.C. He was honorably discharged.

After leaving the Marines, Jerry worked in drywall construction and attended classes at the University of Minnesota, before being recruited as a dispatcher for the White Bear Lake and North St. Paul Police/Fire/Ambulance/Public Works departments.

In 1975, Jerry worked as a Pine County (MN) Deputy Sheriff Patrolman where he was promoted to the rank of sergeant. He retired in 2000 as the department’s Chief Deputy.

Jerry would soon return to law enforcement, working part time as a police officer for the Moose Lake (Minn.) Police Department. He retired from the Moose Lake Police Department in 2005.

In 2007, following a Moose Lake mailman’s alert about a lack of activity at Jerry’s home, retired Moose Lake Police Chief Dale Heaton was alerted. Dale broke into Jerry’s home and found him unconscious. Dale saved Jerry’s life by immediately calling for emergency services. Due to a wound on Jerry’s leg, gangrene had set in while he was unconscious for five days, resulting in the amputation of his left leg below the knee. Even though he lost part of his leg to amputation, Jerry was determined to live an independent life. He fought through months of painful physical and occupational therapy and in the end, lived life on his own terms.

Jerry is survived by his six sisters, Jacelyn Wedell (Edward Monnig) of Missoula, Mont.; Susan Williams of Bolingbrook, Ill.; Beverly Bandstra (John) of Delta, BC, Canada; Ann Secrest (Les) of Sioux Falls, S.D.; Joan Wedell and Karin Wedell of Pullman, Wash.; nephews, John Bandstra (Jessica), Aaron Bandstra (Jess), Colin Bandstra (Nicole), David Monnig (Ericka Miller), Nate Monnig (Katie Lange-Monnig), and Chris Secrest (Crystal); nieces, Irene Zainali (Kevan), Emily Secrest (Nick Gilbreath), Meagan Williams, and Mackenzie Williams; and numerous great-nieces, great-nephews, and many other loving relatives and friends. Jerry is preceded in death by his beloved parents Kenneth and Irene Wedell.

Visitation will be held at Anderson Funeral Homes, 2200 Ludington Street, Escanaba, Michigan on Wednesday, May 1 at 2 p.m. EDT, followed by a service at 3 p.m. EDT. A repast of family and friends will follow the service at the funeral home. Burial will take place at Lakeview Cemetery in Escanaba. The Anderson Funeral Homes are assisting the Wedell family and online condolences can be sent to www.andersonfuneralhomes.net.