Gerald D. `Jerry` Wees

ROCHESTER ? The funeral for Gerald D. ?Jerry? Wees will be 11 a.m. Monday at the Zwingli United Church of Christ in Berne, MN with the Rev. Terje Hausken officiating. Burial will be in Pine Island Cemetery with Military Honors by the Charles Cowden Post 184 of the American Legion. Mr. Wees, 83, of Rochester, formerly of Pine Island, a retired Village of Pine Island employee, died Thursday (April 27, 2006) after a lengthy illness at his home. Born May 8, 1922 to Milbert and Cecelia (Wilson) Wees, on the family farm at Berne, Milton Township, Dodge County, MN he grew up in the Maple Leaf area near Byron. He attended Byron schools graduating from High School there. He moved to Hanover, MN where he was a cheese maker for the Hanover Dairy for four years. He served in the U.S. Army during WW II from 1942 to 1945. He was a prisoner of war in Nazi Germany and was discharged with the Rank of Staff Sergeant. He returned to the Hanover Dairy and married Alyce Mary Oliver in 1946 at Hanover, they were later divorced. He moved to Pine Island in 1948 and was a cheese maker at the Pine Island Cheese Factory. He then owned and operated a Bar and Grill in Hill City, MN. In 1952 he returned to Pine Island and was a cheese maker for the Minnesota Cheese Producers before working for Feigel?s Surge Dairy Equipment in sales and service. On May 11, 1964 he married Carol Ann Swenson of Pine Island. He was employed by the Village of Pine Island in the Sewer and Water Department and then worked for C & B Oil Company for several years. He moved to Rochester in 1978. He returned to the Sewer and Water Department at Pine Island and worked there until his retirement in 1984. He enjoyed music and had played in Bands in the Rochester area. He also enjoyed RV?s and traveling. He was a member of the Charles Cowden Post 184 of the American Legion where he was Past Commander and Adjutant, the 40/8 Club of the American Legion, and the Oronoco VFW Post. Survivors include his wife, a daughter Bonnie (Mike) Oelkers of Pine Island; two sons Rev. Gary (Rebecca) Wees of Mt. Sterling, WI; and Michael (Kari) Wees of Rochester; three stepsons Randy (Amy) Hayward of Pine Island; James (Charlotte) Andrist of Marietta, GA; and Chris (Julie) Andrist of Byron; thirteen grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by an infant daughter, a son, a grandson, a brother, and a sister. Friends may call from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday at Mahn Family Funeral Home ? Mahler Chapel in Pine Island and one hour before the service at the church.