GERALD DUANE DAHM

Gerald D. Dahm, 81 of Devils Lake, ND passed away on Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at the Sanford Health Palliative Care Unit, Fargo, ND with loving family at his side. Mass of Christian Burial for Gerald will be held on Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Fr. Jason Asselin celebrating the Mass. Interment will be in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Monday from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation on Tuesday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral Mass. Serving as Casket Bearers for Gerald will be his grandsons Ryan Kava, Paul Kava, Joey Wallington, Drake Dahm, Josh Dahm and Tyler Klein. Gerald’s other grandchildren will serve as Honorary Bearers, Tara Wallington, Michelle Dahm, Nicholas Lusso, Deana Briggs, Jenna Urness, Tristin Urness, Dawson Urness, Stacy Schaan, Abby Hestbeck, Chanse Grenz, Erica Klein, Brady Dahm, Kylie Dosch and Alexis Dosch. Reading the Scriptures will be Bob Reierson and Gift Bearers will be Stacy Schaan, Abby Hestbeck, Erica Klein and Kylie Dosch. Music will be provided by Donovan Foughty, soloist and JoDee Lagein, organist. Gerald Duane, son of Theodore and Theoline (Lee) Dahm was born on April 9, 1931 in Breckenridge, Minnesota where he grew up and was educated attending Breckenridge Public School. After high school, Gerald entered the United States Air Force on January 2, 1951 and served his country during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged on December 17, 1954. Gerald was united in marriage to Monica Heisler on November 10, 1956 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Wahpeton, ND. Gerald had begun employment with Burlington Northern Railroad as a Signal Maintainer in 1955. His career with the railroad involved many moves and the family lived many places throughout North Dakota and Minnesota. In 1982 they established Devils Lake as their permanent home and Gerald retired in 1993. Monica passed away on December 13, 2005. Gerald was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and the Brotherhood of Signal Maintainers. Gerald liked to fish, hunt and cook. As a family they enjoyed camping and would pack up the whole family and all their supplies and enjoy the beauty of nature and outdoors. Gerald had many special “coffee buddies” that he had coffee with every day. Gerald loved to walk every day, either at the Mall or outside or to coffee at the Cedar Inn Restaurant in Devils Lake with his daughter-in-law, Angela. Gerald was a devoted husband, loving father and grandfather and he will be dearly missed by his family and many friends. Gerald is survived by his nine children: Nancy Strande of Underwood, Minnesota, David (Angela) Dahm, Devils Lake, ND, Diane (Jim) Pinkerman, Fleming Island, Florida, Brenda (Jeff) Urness, Devils Lake ND, Donna Hestbeck, West Fargo, ND, Sharon (Jeff Grenz) Spry of Jamestown, ND, Julie Klein of Grand Forks, ND, Mike (Connie) Dahm of Mukwonago, Wisconsin and JoAnn (Troy) Dosch of Glendale, Arizona; twenty grandchildren and great grandchildren Brooke, Jake, Carter, Aubree, Cooper, Colbie, Payton, Camden and baby girl Lilly-to be born this summer; sister Francis Gretel of Orange, California and brother Ted (Chelle) Dahm of Cave Junction, Oregon; many nieces and nephews also survive. He was preceded in death by his parents Theodore and Theoline; wife Monica; grandson Zachary Urness; sisters Dorothy Scribner and Virginia Gilbertson; brothers Clifford and Richard Dahm.