Severson, Gerald "Jerry" Francis 1949 - 2020

SEVERSON, STORTZ, GRIMES, BLYTHE, BLAIR

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/19/2024 at 21:00:45

U.S. Veteran

Gerald “Jerry” Francis Severson, age 71, passed away Wednesday evening, September 23, 2020 at his home in Montgomery, TX after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. The family will be holding a remembrance service at Forest Park, The Woodlands, TX followed by funeral services held in Decorah, IA.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 6, 2020 at Decorah Lutheran Church with Rev. Peter Kowitz officiating. Burial will be in Phelps Cemetery in Decorah with Military Honors.

Jerry was born in Decorah, IA on May 3, 1949 to Everett Stanley and Marjorie Frances (Stortz) Severson. He was the second of two children. As a child he enjoyed spending time on the farm and hunting. He graduated from Decorah High School with the class of 1968. His high school activities included being a member of the Varsity wrestling and football teams.

On October 30, 1969 he was inducted into the Marine Corps as a Private E1. On November 1, 1970 he was promoted to Corporal E4 and was honorably discharged August 30, 1971. His service included a tour of duty in Okinawa, Japan where he acted as a radar specialist. His Marine Corps medals included a Rifle Marksman Badge and National Defense Service Medal. Jerry was extremely proud of his military service and of being a Marine Corps veteran.

Following his discharge in 1971, he met the love of his life Sandra (Sandi) Grimes of Grand Island, NE. On November 4, 1972 they married in Grand Island, NE. From their humble beginnings in Rochester, MN they experienced several corporate moves including owning homes in Minneapolis, MN, The Woodlands, TX and finally settling in the golf community of Bentwater, Montgomery, TX. On May 2, 1981 Makenzie Layne their only child was born, and she changed their lives forever – all in a good way! In 2004, Makenzie married Christopher (Chris) Howard Blythe. The addition of Chris and grandson Hudson (H-man) in 2011 expanded his role of being a father and one his great joys, being a grandfather. Jerry always had a sense of entrepreneurship and forged many opportunities within the transportation industry over more than forty-eight years. In 2000, he founded his own transportation agency, GTran II. Over the years Jerry was able to expand his business and created long lasting U.S. and Canadian partnerships and friendships. In the last decade, he was fortunate to have his wife Sandi join him as a business partner where they worked to grow GTran II together. He took great pride in his business and the work he did with his numerous carrier partners and clients. His business integrity, telephone chats and steadiness are just a few of the qualities his colleagues appreciated. Jerry is honored that the business will be continued by Sandi.

Outside of managing his own business, Jerry enjoyed spending time with family and his greatest peace was being out in nature. He was an avid gunsmith. His energy was boundless to learn and master new tasks which included improving his golf swing, welding techniques and designing and building an auger filler for his deer feeders. After several attempts and with a little help from his grandson, to his surprise the filler worked! Two of his closest friends were his early morning golf buddy and his East Texas hunting compadre.

His greatest joys were his daughter Makenzie and in later years his grandson Hudson. Jerry was the true patriarch of the family and was always there to teach, guide or provide just the right words at the right time. He took great joy in watching his family grow and was a proud husband, father and grandfather. His love for the outdoors was never far from him. The start of hunting season was one of his favorite times of the year. He forged long lasting friendships during his outdoor adventures and loved to share stories about them. Even in his last days, he talked about how his love for hunting, being outside and seeing his daughter, son-in-law and grandson Hudson grow into a true outdoorsman and enjoy the sport of hunting.

Jerry was preceded in death by his father Everett in 1989 and his mother Marjorie in 2019.

He is survived by his wife, Sandi Sue Severson of Montgomery, TX: his daughter and son in-law Makenzie Layne and Christopher Howard Blythe of McKinney, TX; grandson Hudson Everett Blythe and sister Jean Louise Blair of Decorah, IA.

“Your presence we will miss, your memories we will always treasure…loving you always and forgetting you never…Sandi, Makenzie, Chris, H-Man and Jean Louise “

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Decorah Lutheran Church, 309 Winnebago St., Decorah, IA 52101 or American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123.

Source: Fjelstul Funeral Home database

Phelps Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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