Jerome Sterling

Jerome "Jerry" Sterling, 66, Red Wing, died unexpectedly on Thursday, September 29, 2011 at Cumberland Memorial Hospital, Cumberland, WI. He was born September 27, 1945 in Faribault, MN, the son of Wendell and Bernice (Stine) Sterling. He attended St. Lawrence Catholic Grade School and graduated from Faribault High School in 1963. He served in the U. S. Navy 1965-1970. He married Mary Atkinson on December 2, 1967. They lived in Faribault and Owatonna where he worked for the Minnesota Correctional Facility. He was transferred to Red Wing in 1969 where he worked until retiring in 1998. He received a degree in Criminal Justice from Inver Grove Heights Community College in 1976. After retirement he drove van for the Red Wing School District and ran the score clock for the High School football and boys' and girls' basketball games--which he had done since 1983. He was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, the Burnson Lillyblad VFW Post #1218, the Leo C. Peterson American Legion # 54, and Red Wing BPOE #845. He supported all baseball leagues, especially the American Legion League and volunteered with the Sons of American Legion, and enjoyed going to his friends' cabin. Spending time with his grandchildren was very special to him as he was dedicated to improving quality of life for kids. He was also a member of the coffee group at Perkins.

Survivors include his wife, Mary; two daughters: Sara (A. J.) Voigt and Tara (Jesse) Nelson, all of Red Wing; four grandchildren: Cameron Voigt, Kyli, Sydnee and Tenley Nelson and his fifth grandchild due in 6 weeks; one sister, Kathryn (Jerry) Duchene of Faribault; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Kenneth and Catherine Atkinson of Red Wing; three brothers-in-law: Jack Thayer of Owatonna; Leo (Nancy) Atkinson of Atlanta, GA and John (Sheri) Atkinson of Denver, CO; one sister-in-law, Cheri Sterling of Faribault and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Karen Thayer; one brother, James Sterling and a sister-in-law, Trish Atkinson.

Memorial Mass will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, October 3, 2011 at the Church of Saint Joseph with Father Bruce Peterson presiding. Burial with military honors will be at Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be 2 - 5 p. m. Sunday, October 2, 2011, at Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel, with a Legion Prayer Service at 5:00, and for one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials are preferred to the American Legion Baseball League or the Red Wing Booster Club.