Gerald "Jerry" Walter Suhr

Gerald (Jerry) Walter Suhr, 77, died peacefully in his sleep the morning of Thursday, June 20, 2024, during a brief hospice respite stay at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester after a seven-year battle with prostate cancer. Many family and friends were with Jerry to celebrate his 77th birthday on June 1, and visited him often during his final weeks of in-home hospice care with his daughter and caregiver extraordinaire, MaryBeth Espinoza, and her family in Kasson.

Jerry was born on June 1, 1947, at St. Mary’s. He grew up on Zumbro Valley Farms in Mantorville Township, milking cows and working the farm with his loving parents and siblings from a young age. He attended the Cumberland Country School for first and second grade, followed by Mantorville Elementary and Kasson-Mantorville High School. He was active in 4H, FFA, the Wasioja Church children’s programs, and the Mantorville Congregational Church youth group. He enjoyed spending time with his cousins and other extended family in the area.

Jerry graduated from high school in 1965 and joined the United States Air Force Reserves, where he served for six years while continuing to work the family’s farm. Jerry and his brother, Don, became the fourth Suhr generation to operate Zumbro Valley Farms. He married Shirley McQueen on August 26, 1972. Jerry and Shirley had four children. The couple later divorced. After a barn fire in 1990, Jerry continued his dairy operation in rented barns. He sold the majority of his cattle in 1993 and worked on several farms in the area. Even in his final months, he continued to assist fellow farmers and mentor his nephews, Joel and Jason, the fifth generation to farm the Suhr family’s land.

In addition to farming, Jerry enjoyed history, train travel, meandering country drives, attending kids’ and grandkids’ activities, Minnesota Twins games, and visiting with family and friends. He was an active member of the Mantorville Congregational Church, a regular participant in the Relay for Life, and an avid blood donor, giving a total of nearly 20 gallons. As a member of the Dodge County Historical Society, he volunteered for many events over the last several years, including Dodge County Fair exhibits, the annual Wasioja Tractor Show, and the annual Christmas Gathering at the Wasioja Creamery. An incredibly kind, generous, fun-loving, hard-working man who “never met a stranger,” Jerry will be dearly missed by many.

Jerry was preceded in death by his mother, Evelyn (Wyttenbach) Suhr; his father, Wayne Suhr; his former wife, Shirley McQueen; and numerous beloved uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends. He is survived by his uncle, Daryl Wyttenbach of Magnolia, DE; three siblings, Mike (Rollie) Suhr of Minneapolis, Virginia (Sam) Basseen of Oak Ridge, TN, and Don (Terri) Suhr of Mantorville; four children, Stacy (Daryl) Turner of Claymont, DE, Adam (Stacy) Suhr of Kiester, MaryBeth (Ramon) Espinoza of Kasson, and Mandy (Nathan) Suhr-Sytsma of Decatur, GA; eleven grandchildren, Megan (Ian) Stutsman of Mankato, David and Aaron Wise of Claymont, DE, Austin (Shakana) Suhr of Austin, Raven (Tristan) Wacek of Kiester, Taige Suhr of Kiester, Carter (Carissa) Espinoza of Rolling Stone, Gabriela and Diego Espinoza of Kasson, and Rowan and Rosalind Suhr-Sytsma of Decatur, GA; six great grandchildren, Nehemiah, Lydia, Ava, and Ryan Stutsman, Rylan Wacek, and Esther Suhr; special friend, Marla Henson; and many other family members and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites memorials to the Dodge County Historical Society, Dodge County Relay for Life, or the Red Cross. If you are able, please also donate blood in Jerry’s honor.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, June 27, 2024, at South Zumbro Lutheran Church, 68905 280th Ave in Kasson, MN with Pastor Pete Wyttenbach officiating.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Inurnment will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Mantorville, MN.

To share a special memory or condolence please visit www.czaplewskifuneralhomes.com, Czaplewski Family Funeral Homes, 801 7th St SE Kasson, MN 55940 (507) 634-6510. Blessed be his memory.