GERALD M. "JERRY" MAYERS

Gerald “Jerry” Mayers, 90 of Devils Lake, ND passed away early Tuesday morning, March 11, 2014 at the Heartland Care                   Center, Devils Lake. Mass of the Resurrection for Jerry will be held on Saturday, March 15, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake with Fr. Matthew Kraemer celebrating the Mass. Jerry will be laid to rest in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Friday from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 6:00 p.m. Rosary will be led by the Knights of Columbus and an Honor Guard by the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus.   Visitation on Saturday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral Mass. Jerry was born December 3, 1923 in St. Martin, MN the son of Walburga Mayers and step father Aloys Goeser. He spent most of his time with his grandmother until age five when he came to North Dakota. They lived on a farm north of Starkweather, ND and he helped with the farming and raising cattle. At age eleven, he got permission to help with getting the wood and coal burning in the steam engine to produce power for the threshing machine. He became very interested in the steam engine and in later years made a miniature one. In 1942, Jerry moved to Stanchfield, MN with his parents. They bought a farm and settled into raising cattle and some farming. He also worked at Nelson Automotive in Stanchfield. Gerald married Viola Goeser on September 24, 1946 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Calio, ND. Following their marriage they moved to Devils Lake and there raised their family of six. Jerry began working at Lake Motor Service for Art Halverson and Harold Kenner in 1946. In 1949, he accepted a job as Service Manager for John C. Powell, an Oldsmobile dealer. He rented a building in 1959 and started Jerry’s Automotive Service. He had other personnel working for him over the years. In 1986 the service was taken over by his son, Randy, who is still operating it today. Jerry was a member of St. Joseph Church and served as an usher and donation counter for many years. He was a life member of the Knights of Columbus and also a member of the 4th Degree. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather and will be missed by all. Jerry made an enjoyable and memorable trip to the Holy Land, touring old Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jericho and the Garden of Gethsemane and other areas. He also had a trip to see the old ruins of Pompeii in Italy. On returning, he went to Rome and had an audience with Pope Paul VI and viewed the Vatican and the Papal Gardens. He also enjoyed two trips to Hawaii. In earlier years, Gerald was contracted to make 98,000 jewel holders for the Turtle Mountain Ordinance Plant in Rolla, ND. They were used to hold the jewels that were needed in watches. In order to get them finished in the allotted time, he received help from Harold Helten.   In the early 70’s Jerry became interested in working with Montana Agate and other rocks making them into jewelry. He acquired equipment to cut and slice and later had to do grinding and polishing. When highly polished the stones were ready to put in mountings or hand made. After partially retiring, he started collecting some pottery and a variety of antiques and did some work on clocks. Gerald is survived by his devoted wife, Viola of 67 years; his children and their spouses Nancy and Mike Krueger of Felton, MN, Linda Caverly of Mesa, AZ, Gary and Stephanie Mayers of Bastrop, TX, Randy and Cindy Mayers of Devils Lake, Lynn and Mary Ann Mayers of Cincinnati, OH and Wayne and Ramah Mayers of Burlington, KY; sixteen grandchildren Scott Krueger, Kashane (Rick) Clausen, Krista Cooley, Steven Cooley, Dustin Mayers, Brandi Linder, Amanda Mayers, Melissa (Bob) Bingham, Becky Mayers, Robert Mayers, Nicole Mayers, Allyson (Nicholas) Rafanello, Katelyn Mayers, Silas Mayers and Kaden Mayers and step grandchild Becky McCurdy; many great grandchildren; brother and sisters John (Kay) Goeser of Andover, MN, Katherine Julik, Taylor Falls, MN, Joan Serie, Minneapolis, MN, Carol Lakatua, Minneapolis and Luella (Ted) Green, Shafer, MN; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Edwin (Iona) Goeser, Munich, ND, Eugene (Mary) Goeser, also of Munich, Peter (Nancy) Goeser, Elco, NV, Irene Stirling, Gardner, ND and Diane (Richard) Jundt, Silva, ND; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; granddaughter Ariane Wheeler, great granddaughter Katiana Wheeler and sisters Pauline Rose and Mary Jane Konecny.   Serving as Casket Bearers for Jerry will be Robert Mayers, Tim Goeser, Joseph Goeser, Harold Stirling, Bob Stirling and Michael Jundt. Music will be provided by Lynne Webster and Audrey Myklebust. Friends may sign the online register book and share memories of Jerry at www.gilbertsonfuneralhome.com