Gerald R. "Jerry" Kvarnlov

NOTE CHANGE OF SERVICE DAY AND TIME

Jerry's time of gathering (visitation) has been changed to FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24 from 9:30 to 11:30,

with family prayers at 11:00.

A reception and celebration of life will follow afterward starting at 12:00 Noon at Medina Entertainment Center, a short 6-minute drive from the service, located at 500 Highway 55, Medina, MN 55340.  If you can’t make the service, we’d still love for you to stop out for the celebration of life where we’ll have plenty of time to share stories of Jerry, have some of his favorite apps, and enjoy as many desserts as we can find.

TO SEE THE RECORDING OF JERRY'S SERVICE, PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW:

https://online.brushfire.com/dts/geartydelmorefuneralchapels/fp9vy5wd2j

Gerald (Jerry) Roy Kvarnlov, 71, decided to leave us unexpectedly on February 10, 2023, without ever cleaning up the garage.  He’s left us with a hole in our hearts as deep as the snack cupboard (it’s cavernous) and a full garage, but still not nearly as full as the love he had for us in his heart.

Jerry, or “Cup” as he was known by his oldest and dearest friends, was born to the late Roy and Hilda (Ganz) Kvarnlov on August 17th, 1951, at the old Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis, as was appropriate for a 50/50 Swedish German.  Growing up in North Minneapolis with his younger sister Gayle, he took on the typical role of an annoying big brother, which he carried into adulthood tormenting her lovingly and always giggling about it.  Throughout his teasing later in life, Gayle still knew he had a very big heart, and he was always happy to hear from her.  We can all attest he enjoyed their calls, as the rest of us always got to hear all about their conversations.

For us and many others, it was his passion for the outdoors that he’ll be remembered.  His passion formed growing up spending time in the woods outside of the city with his dad, Roy.  Early years deer hunting, walking for grouse in the fall woods, days on the shores and waters of Lone Lake, and just being at the Deer Shack or woods anywhere is what gave his soul peace.  That love for the outdoors continued to his last day and is instilled in his children Trevor and Molly as well.  Fishing trips camping on islands on the Canadian border, a crackling campfire with the flames dancing, a perfectly-roasted marshmallow, those fireworks where you can feel the boom in your chest, pointing out every kind of tree and bird on a forest walk and then quizzing you on it later, more fall trips to the Deer Shack, hours and hours in a cold deer stand in the quiet of the woods with chickadees landing on his gun barrel in the stillness, simply sitting and watching wildlife, especially from Molly’s patio, and just enjoying the companionship of friends around the table at night after a day in the field never failed to make him smile.

And never forget the good meals at the end of the day of being outside.  A good meal with friends was more important than harvesting any game that day.  Dad was an excellent cook, even if he’d never admit that his children may have taken his cooking talents a little further than his own.  It was his skills in the kitchen that allowed him to bring joy to hundreds of rumbling stomachs, and his kids have already begun to continue that tradition.  I’m sure we’ll be planning a pig roast in his honor like the ones he still told us about again and again from 35 years ago.

In his latest years, he still found time for cooking and sharing snacks with two of his proudest joys, his grandkids, Addi and Carter.  I think he was one of the only people I knew that still chose to eat SPAM, happily and on purpose.  Pancakes and SPAM were the weekend breakfast staple every time the kids stayed at Nanny and Papa’s.  And snacks.  God, those snacks were never-ending.  Addi and Carter also called Papa several times a week.  They could always count on him to answer their calls and they loved to share all their stories and accomplishments with him.

If you need to find him, there’s a spot in the woods at the Deer Shack, near the farm where his father grew up, where he’s sitting on a hill, leaned back against a tree under the maples with their changing autumn leaves, the sun is warming his chest, the .410/22 in his lap, a Pearson’s nut roll in his pocket, and flocks of nuthatches, chickadees, and woodpeckers are chittering away welcoming his smile.  I know he’ll be waiting for us there.

Jerry is survived by the love of his life, Bridget (Murphy), son and forever hunting buddy Trevor, daughter and shared cooking show enthusiast Molly Hiipakka (Nick), grandchildren Addi and Carter, sister Gayle Carlson (Jim), sisters-in-law Sheila Mead, Peggy Cerrito (John), and Eileen Murphy, nieces Anna Pohmer (Stan) and Megan Schnebly (Colin), nephews Michael Carlson, John-John and Tommy Cerrito, great aunts and uncles, a multitude of cousins, and so many friends that all loved him and will miss him dearly.  And his couch.

A reception and celebration of life will follow afterward starting at 12:00 Noon at Medina Entertainment Center, a short 6-minute drive from the service, located at 500 Highway 55, Medina, MN 55340.  If you can’t make the service, we’d still love for you to stop out for the celebration of life where we’ll have plenty of time to share stories of Jerry, have some of his favorite apps, and enjoy as many desserts as we can find.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to the family are preferred.