Gerald L. Konu, 83, of Moose Lake, MN passed away on Thursday, December 30, 2021, due to injuries sustained in a car accident on December 3, 2021.

"Jerry" as he was known throughout the area, was born on Friday, October 28, 1938, the youngest child of Theodore and Ina (Haikola) Konu of Silver Township.

Jerry, along with his brother Kenneth and sister Joanne (Alice), was raised on the family dairy farm in Silver Township where they spent countless hours milking cows, bringing in the harvest and picking countless, infernal rocks but he also found time to play with his Leino and Korhonen cousins.

As a child Jerry learned valuable lessons that he would carry with him throughout his life, the value of family, friends, hard work and most importantly, his faith in Christ. Farming may have been his career, but it was his faith that defined Jerry's life and Deuteronomy 11:13-15 exemplifies the role of both for Jerry.

Jerry attended and graduated from Moose Lake High School in 1956 where he played football, baseball and was involved in the Sportsman's Club and Future Farmers of America. After high school, Jerry served in the United States Air Force where he was stationed in Texas, New York, NY and in Spain where he learned some Spanish to go with his English and Finnish language skills.

After his time in the service, Jerry returned home to help Ina run the Konu Family Dairy Farm following the sudden death of his father on July 4, 1962. Jerry, with the help of his brother Ken and nephews Mark, Eric, Scott, and Bruce, was able to keep the farm going and expand it over the years while winning various awards and more importantly, earning the respect of fellow area farmers.

Jerry was an active member of both his Silver Township and St. Peter's Lutheran Church communities where he served both as treasurer. He was a regular face at local restaurants where he would go with "The Old Finns" to eat and socialize. He was an avid bowler and represented many local businesses like Art's Barn Shop, The Willow River Mercantile and Moose Lake Federal Credit Union.

While Jerry never did marry or have a family of his own, he loved and was loved by many nephews, nieces, great nephews, and great nieces who unknowingly brought Jerry great joy and happiness. He enjoyed giving them rides in the tractors, taking part in countless 'monkey piles' and going to their games, concerts, birthday parties and spending time being a great role model for all of them.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; Ted & Ina Konu, his brother & sister-in-law, Ken & Marie Konu, his brother-in-law Robert Miller Sr., his nephew Scott Konu and his great nephew, Jackson Pearson.

While Jerry will be greatly missed by his sister, Joanne, many nieces, nephews, cousins, and countless friends, we know that he is in a far better place and reunited with family and friends that passed before.

Services for Jerry will be at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Moose Lake, MN on Saturday, January 8, 2022, with visitation beginning at 1 pm with a 2 pm funeral service. Honorary pallbearers will be Mark Konu, Bruce Konu, Eric Konu, Sara (Konu) Dorr, Robert Miller, Shawn Sarvela, Britt Sarvela, and Rory Sarvela. Military honors will follow the service and will be provided by the American Legion Post 0379.