Gerald “Gerry” Offerdahl, 86, of Davenport, Iowa passed away August 20, 2024 at Ridgecrest Village. Funeral services will be held on Friday, August 23, 2024 at 11am at Weerts Funeral Home; visitation will be one hour before the service starting at 10am. Gerry will be laid to rest at the Mount Hope Cemetery in St. James, MN on Monday, August 26, 2024 at 10:00 am. Gerry requested there be no flowers as he considered them a waste of money; memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church, Camp Shalom, or to the Ridgecrest Foundation.
Gerry was born on October 29, 1937 in St. James, Minnesota to Arden H. and Pearl Offerdahl. He graduated from St. James High School in 1955 and Mankato State College in 1959. He was drafted into the Army and served from March 1960 to October 1962. Following his service in the military, he was employed by the Army as am Ammunition Inspector (surveillance). After attending Ammunition School at Savanna Army Depot in Illinois for two years, he served seven years stateside and three overseas tours.
For 20 years he enjoyed an annual two week reunion at a northern Minnesota lake with friends from Minnesota, Illinois, and Nebraska. He was a member of the American Volksport Association and like to walk in the Black Hills, especially Crazy Horse, Bear Butte, and Harvey Peak. He volunteered at Camp Shalom for several years and at Buffalo Elementary School for 20 years. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church.
He is survived by his brother Bob, his nephew Matthew, and nieces Samantha and Jessica.
He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant sister.
