GERALD ARTHUR “Jerry” OELSCHLAGER
May 27, 1939 – May 26, 2012 

Gerald Arthur “Jerry” Oelschlager, age 72 of Menahga, MN passed away on Saturday, May 26, 2012 at the St. Joseph’s Hospital in Park Rapids, MN.
Jerry was born on May 27, 1939 in Badoura Township of Hubbard County, MN as the first of four children born to Gerhard and Marie (Bliss) Oelschlager. At the age of 18 he graduated from the Akeley Public High School and ventured to Excelsior, MN where he gained employment. It was there that he met and on October 25, 1958 was united in marriage to Karen Hamlett. This union was blessed with a daughter, Sandra in 1959. The young couple moved to Bloomington, MN where Jerry worked at Powell’s Candy Company and later at the Capp Towers in Minneapolis. In 1972, the Capp Towers, which had become a Holiday Inn, had been heavily damaged in a fire. At that time Jerry was promoted and transferred to the Holiday Inn Headquarters in Memphis, TN where he served as regional Chief Engineer and was responsible for planning and implementing all of the remodelings and refurbishings of Holiday Inn Facilities which included everything from electrical, mechanical, furniture, carpeting, painting and the exteriors of the Holiday Inn Motels throughout the country. In 1974 he left Holiday Inn and moved with his family to Dassel, MN where he worked as a salesman for 19 years for several farm implement dealers, an auto dealer, and for Dassel Sports which sold four wheelers, motor cycles and snowmobiles. In fact, for many years Jerry was the top salesman at Mies Equipment and helped them grow to become one of the midwest’s largest farm equipment dealers. Due to being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis he retired from Mies Equipment in 1995. In the mid-1980’s Gerald and Karen purchased a farm near Darwin, MN where he raised beef cattle, hogs and chickens. He also purchased a bar and restaurant in Dassel which he remodeled around a German theme and named it after his father, “Gustav’s On Main” He later sold this business to his daughter, but helped her run it for nearly 20 years, until she sold it in 2005. In 1995, he and Karen took a once in a lifetime trip and drove in their RV to Alaska. From 1995 through 2005, they spent their winters in Apache Junction, AZ. Jerry will be long remembered for his love of fishing and hunting. He especially enjoyed his fishing trips along the English River in Canada. He also enjoyed fishing the local lakes which he knew well. Each fall he looked forward to spending time with his deer hunting gang hunting south of Akeley. Each spring he would look forward to planting a large vegetable garden and taking pride in his abundant harvest. He loved working outside whether it was in his garden or mowing his lawn. Jerry had also taken wood carving as a hobby after being taught the art by an 84 year old neighbor in Arizona. Jerry was a member of the Masonic Lodge and was a Shriner. In 2011, Jerry was diagnosed with a lung disease that would make it impossible to do anything without oxygen.
Jerry will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Karen and daughter, Sandra both of Menahga, MN; his brother,  Roger of St. Paul, MN; sister-in-law, Geri of Minnetonka, MN; as well as his grandcat, Pawes.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Lenny.
Memorial services will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, June 9, 2012 at Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids, MN. Frank Lamb will play and sing “In the Garden” and “Farewell Party”. Honorary casketbearers will be:  Kenneth Oelschlager, Larry Oelschlager, Roger Oelschlager, Randy Oelschlager, Jon Hendricks, Ryan Oelschlager, Frank Lamb, Avery Billings, Deloris Lamb, Bill Arnold and Donna Voight.  Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service on Saturday.