Gerald Edward Konkel

Jerry lived his Catholic faith every day and his faith carried him through his illness. While our hearts are heavy, we are also profoundly grateful for the extraordinary life he lived, the people he touched, and the many memories he leaves behind.

Jerry was born in 1940 to Albin “Jake” and Dolores Konkel on a small family farm outside the tiny town of Minneiska, Minnesota. He was the second of five children.

Jerry went to high school and college in nearby Winona, Minnesota. He was drafted into the Army during the early years of the Vietnam War but was fortunately stationed in the States, far from the conflict.

After he was discharged, he met, fell in love with, and married Margaret “Marge” Konkel (née Jopling), in the fall of 1969. This October would have marked their 57th wedding anniversary.

While living in Pennsylvania, Jerry and Marge started their family in 1971 with the birth of Gerald "Jay." Jeff followed three years later, in 1974. Margaret "Maggi" was born four years later, in 1978. By then, the family had relocated to St. Louis, Missouri, where they would spend the next 50 years together.

Jerry was always a hard worker. He spent 25 years working for the Saint Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company and then another quarter century working for RLI Corporation. He loved spending time with his clients and coworkers and only grudgingly retired at the age of 78.

When he wasn’t working, Jerry loved spending time in his garden, growing and then canning his vegetables. In his later years, he focused his green thumb on flowers, and his dahlias were the envy of the neighborhood.

Jerry was always physically active and spent untold hours going to the gym, although in later years he may have spent more time there gabbing with his friends than pumping iron. When he was hospitalized a few weeks ago, he was still going to the gym three days a week.

Jerry worshipped the sun and loved to lay out and soak up the rays. He was always proud of his deep tan.

When his family was young, travel for Jerry meant annual road trips north to visit family in Minnesota. Later, he and Marge were able to venture further afield: to Europe and Australia, on countless Caribbean cruises, and on frequent road trips across the United States.

Jerry was an avid reader with a deep love of American history and a fascination with the British royal family. He also read way too many true-crime histories, much to the consternation of his children.

When his nose wasn’t stuck in a book, his eyes could often be found glued to the screen. In later years, he loved reality television, the trashier the better. During his latest hospitalization, Marge kept him updated on the comings and goings of this season’s Big Brother contestants.

But above all else, Jerry loved his family. He was utterly devoted to Marge and was the best father and grandfather a child could hope for. He loved dinners with his family crowded around the table. He played endless rounds of the card game 500 over many decades, first with his parents and siblings in Minnesota and later with his kids and grandkids in St. Louis. Although Marge was always the cook, Jerry enjoyed preparing his own specialties, including homemade pizza, and a hearty cioppino stew in recent years. After dinner, he and Marge often enjoyed a cold martini. They never could agree on the vodka, so he always mixed up two separate batches. Jerry also made a world-class Bloody Mary.

He was always proud of his kids and grandkids, no matter what paths they chose or where life took them. He will be profoundly missed by Marge, his children Jay (Susan), Jeff (Livia), and Maggi (Ben) Dueker; his seven grandchildren: Presley, Grant, Alexandra, Nate, Nicholas, Colin, and Brennan. He is also survived by his brother Thomas (Mary) and his sister, Barb Huth. Jerry was predeceased by his parents, Jake and Dolores and Jake's second wife, Jo; and his siblings Robert (the late Greta) and Kathy Konkel.

He was deeply loved, and we were incredibly lucky to have him in our lives.

Visitation will be Monday, October 5 from 4-8pm at Hoffmeister Colonial Mortuary, 6464 Chippewa Street 63109. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday, October 6 at 11am at Saint Lucy Parish on the campus of Saint Joan of Arc Church, 5801 Pernod Avenue, 63139. A Rite of Committal will follow at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery where Full Military Honors will be bestowed.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jerry's memory to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul/St. Lucy Parish or St. Jude's Hospital for Children would be greatly appreciated by his family.

Please leave a favorite memory of Jerry for his family to cherish at the "Add a Memory" link below.