Gerald Goerish

Gerald “Jerry” “Baldy” Glenn Goerish, 81, of Clear Lake, died Friday, Sept. 30, 2016, at his home.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 7, 2016, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 1001 9th Ave. S., Clear Lake, with the Reverend John Gossman officiating.  Burial will be in the Clear Lake Cemetery with military honors conducted by members of the Clear Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4868.  Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 6, with a scriptural wake service at 6:30 p.m. at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 North 4th St., Clear Lake.  Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the service on Friday at the church.

Those wishing to donate in his memory please consider making contributions to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church or to the Clear Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Jerry was born July 26, 1935, the son of Albert Andrew and Thelma Opal (Fults) Goerish, in rural Sanborn, Minn.  He was united in marriage to his sweetheart, Gloria D. Carl, on Aug. 11, 1958, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, in Belle Plaine, Iowa.  To this union they were blessed with four children: Annalisa, Gerene, Patti and Jim.

Jerry grew up and attended school in Sanborn, Minn.  As a United States Army veteran, he served during the Lebanon Crisis.  In 1952 he began working for the Chicago-Northwestern Railroad.  Jerry worked in several positions, the last being machine operator, before his retirement.  He later worked at Fredrickson Welding Shop.

Jerry was a volunteer for many years at Opportunity Village in Clear Lake.  He enjoyed collecting and fixing anything, and spending time with his wife, family, and friends.   

Jerry was a lifetime member of the Clear Lake VFW Post 4868, Clear Lake Evening Lions, Knights of Columbus Council 7898 with St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, and the National Association of Retired and Veteran Railway Employees.  He was always willing to give people a helping hand when they needed it. He loved to have coffee at 5 a.m. daily, with his dearest friends and “rootbeer” with them at the VFW. He rarely missed a lunch with his daughter, Annalisa, and liked to have Sunday breakfast with his daughter, Patti.

Left to cherish his memory are his children: Annalisa (Butch) Marshall, of Coulter, Iowa and their children, Neil, Jason (Danielle) and their children, Dylan, Connor, and Joseyana; Gerene (Michael) Farrell, of St. Charles, Iowa, and their children, Michelle (Jon) and Savanah (Pat); Patti Goerish, of Mason City and special friend, Mike; and son, Jim (Wendy) Goerish, of Hastings, Minn., and their children, Zach, Robert and John (Jennifer) and their son, Ryder. His brothers and sisters: Louis Goerish, Elly (Frank) Trebesch, Ed (LeiLani) Goerish, Charlie (Sandy) Goerish, Beverly (Sal) Windshital, and Tom (Diane) Goerish; his brothers and sister-in-laws, Bev Goerish, Dean Carl, Larry Carl, and Nona Paulsen; many nieces, nephews, as well as many extended family members and friends.

Gerald was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Thelma Goerish; his wife, Gloria who died on May 5, 2013; and a brother, Roger Goerish.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.