Jerry Joe Miesen

Jerry was born to Irene and Lloyd Sr. on February 12, 1935 in Portland, OR.

Jerry grew up in the East Moreland area with his two brothers, Lloyd Jr. and Lee, and attended Duniway Elementary School, Cleveland High School (class of 1952), and Lewis & Clark College.

The Miesen family owned a farm where Milo McIver Park is now located. He loved hanging with the farm hands and selling eggs to his East Moreland neighbors. He realized at an early age that he enjoyed meeting people, liked selling, and loved making money and that he was good at all three.

His grandfather started Sunset Fuel Company in 1922, and Jerry began working there shoveling coal in his youth, eventually becoming the Chief Financial Officer, working alongside his brothers expanding with oil-furnaces, heat pumps, gas, decommissioning tanks and Pacific Pride gas stations. He retired in 2004.

Jerry was actively involved in the NE Portland Rotary, serving as President, and worked with philanthropic non-profits raising funds to research and alleviate polio. He was a member of the Multnomah Athletic Club (MAC) for over 50 years. He was enthusiastic about sports and won multiple MAC awards for handball, but he also loved golf, snow skiing, hiking, fishing, and tennis.

At age 22, he bought his first house on Lake Oswego and "lived large" with his many friends, water skiing, hanging out at dinner parties, and playing games. He lived on Lake Oswego on and off for almost 70 years.

In 1976, he moved to West Linn, bought a small farm, and raised cows, horses, chickens, rabbits, and a goat. He loved to tend the garden even before he changed his suit when he came home from work at Sunset Fuel. One of the high points of the day was playing with his dog, Gus, and mowing the grass on his riding lawn mower for hours.

Jerry married Linda Terhark in 1995, and they've spent three decades traveling around the world. They especially loved spending time in Palm Desert, Maui, and their beach house in Oceanside, OR where Jerry fished with his boat in Tillamook Bay, walked their dogs, Bandit and Tag, on the beach, and enjoyed sunsets with a good glass of wine.

Jerry had a great sense of fun and joked with almost everyone he met. People loved him for his kindness and powerful presence.

He is survived by his wife, Linda, and his children, Melissa Miesen (Tom), Heather Willig (Mike), Kailani Taylor, and five grandchildren, Jackson & Kennedy Willig, Donald, Kalia, & Tyrin Mobley, and three great-grandchildren.

Jerry was interred during a small family service at Finley Sunset Hills Memorial Park.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.finleysunsethills.com for the Miesen family.