Jerome "Jerry" R. Bofferding

November 25, 2021. He had a short battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) having been

diagnosed on November 1, 2021. He leaves behind his best friend, pal and loving wife Sharon.

Also his daughter Deb (Gregg) Zafft, and step-daughters Tami Reed and Kim (Bernie) Balder

and daughter-in-law Patty Bofferding. He also left 10 grandchildren Sarah, Blair, Derrick,

Brittney, Jenna, Kristine, Josh, Emily, Blake and Michael and three precious great grandchildren,

Adison, Gracelyn and Ginevra.

He was preceded in death by his parents Roy and Minerva Bofferding and sister Carolyn and

her husband Daryl Prehoda. Also preceded in death by his son James Bofferding, his son John

Bofferding, his daughter Diana Bofferding and his beloved granddaughter Katie Bofferding

(Getchell).

He attended elementary school at St. Anne’s in Minneapolis and went on to attend De La Salle

high school to graduate in 1954. Following high school he went into the U.S. Navy for two

years,serving on the U.S.S. Shields, but scheduling that service to begin after the deer hunting

season in Minnesota. Before that he had been interested in hunting, but that was the beginning

of a lifelong interest in hunting, which became a passion over many years and took him to

widespread travel of the North American continent first, and then around the world.

Jerry worked at various machine shops and sheet metal companies in his early working life and

then in 1969 purchased a small precision sheet metal manufacturing company, starting with 2

employees and growing to over 150 employees. His company was R & M Manufacturing and

he loved it. He worked hard to grow his company. R & M was the center of his world and he

had a great sense of pride in the Company and all of the wonderful, hardworking employees.

In pursuit of another passion outside R & M heloved hunting. 1985 took him and Sharon on

their first international hunt and they were off to Zimbabwe, The next 15-18 years took them to

many countries on many continents. He always said that there was never a favorite because

they were all different. He was a member of MN Chapter SCI, and served on the Board of

Directors for several years. He also was a lifelong member of SCI International. He loved life in

general, but especially outdoor life. After retiring he continued his pheasant hunting which he

lovingly referred to as his first love. He spent time each fall hunting pheasants in South Dakota

and totally loved the hunting companionship of the exceptional people that shared that with him

with a beloved dog always by his side.

Jerry had a fascination with boats, and for a number of years did a lot of fishing for salmon on

lake Michigan. He started with a 30 ft. boat and 4 boats later was fishing from a 42 ft. cabin

cruiser. His boats were harbored on Washington Island in Wisconsin, and like many things in

his life this too was shared with family, friends and even employees and clients. He started out

salmon fishing just being casual about it and then like everything in his life, he became driven to

do it best and even fancied that he was competing a bit with the charter boats. But, just as

many other things in his life, the people he shared the fishing with and the time spent as well as

the stories told became the focus of the adventure. Every weekend for 8 or 10 weeks were

spent on the boat salmon fishing. Stopping early fall to give time for preparing for fall hunting.

The lake home he and Sharon shared on the east side of Leech Lake was where he always

wanted to spend any extra time for almost 30 years. In summers his grandchildren spent time

there and it was a great time of his life teaching them shooting skills, riding 4-wheelers,

swimming and water skiing among many other outdoor pursuits, as well as the long hours just

sitting around the dining room table talking and sharing. He taught them how to drive a boat

and lots of safety tips. Fishing was something Jerry enjoyed all of his adult life and Leech Lake

was a great spot. He had fond memories of fishing with his Grandpa when he was just a young

child. Always telling me that it was his job to dig the worms and clean the boat. He enjoyed the

fishing and his memory recorded that the way his Grandma fried them was the best ever.

In between all of his work and other activities squeezed in there was his and Sharon’s “ski haus”

in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. All winter long, as long as there was snow on the

ground, family and friends spent their weekends there. Family time was for skiing and fun

activities like sleigh rides. The house there was cozy and our adult kids enjoyed the closeness

we created there. With friends it was always snowmobiling. Again, as with other pursuits in his

life, snowmobiling was a full out passion and he loved it.

His life was spent with passion in everything he did and full speed ahead. He will be missed

greatly. The family appreciates all who have reached out in kind and caring ways.

In lieu of flowers a donation to - Mayo Clinic Rochester - directed to cancer research can be

made.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 AM Tuesday December 7, 2021 at St Vincent de Paul Catholic Church 9100 93rd Ave N, Brooklyn Park with visitation one hour prior at the church. Evening visitation will be held 5-8 PM Monday Decemeber 6th at Kapala Glodek Malone Funeral Home 7800 Bass Lake Rd, New Hope. Burial in St. Vincent Cemetery.