Gerald 'Jerry' Thomas Madsen, 81
Gerald “Jerry” Thomas Madsen passed away on Nov. 28, 2021, at Logan Health from complications related to asbestos and agent orange exposure. He was born on July 30, 1940, in Karlstad, Minnesota, to Walter and Thelma (Lorenson) Madsen.
In 1947 he lost his beloved father and infant sister, so in 1950 Thelma moved Jerry and sister Joyce to Kalispell for a new start.
He started elementary school in Karlstad and then attended Cayuse Prairie, Deer Park and Boorman schools here in the valley. He went on to graduate from Flathead County High School in 1959. While he was in elementary and high school he also worked with his stepfather on the family sawmill. This was the beginning of him learning to fix and repair many things throughout his life.
In December of 1961 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy; after boot camp he went on to a sheet metal school. He was first enlisted on the USS Prairie and two and a half years later, then transferred to the USS Chevalier where he was stationed in Vietnam and would make lifelong friendships. He was honorably discharged in April of 1966.
Gerald then returned to Kalispell to begin his career in the sheet metal industry. He worked for several well known sheet metal shops, including Hundahl, Richards and General Sheet Metal. He also had many other union jobs that took him all over the state from Colstrip to Libby. He also worked in Alaska on the pipeline (a couple different times throughout his life), and in Utah for some time. If anyone wanted anything made or fabricated from metal Jerry was the guy that could do it. He was a perfectionist so it had to be perfectly made or he would remake it until it was. One day his grandson Rylin had come home and told him that he had heard from someone in the community that his Grandpa was famous for being the best sheet metal man in the valley.
In 1967 he was married to Jeanie Horstman and from this marriage had two children, Geremy (1969) and Jeanice (1971), They would later divorce and Jerry would begin working closer to home at the Anaconda Aluminum plant in Columbia Falls. It was during this time he would meet and marry Sherry Kelch and from this marriage have two more children, Janice (1978) and Jason (1980).
As many know Jerry was also a collector of many things from sheet metal tools, old trucks, John Deeres, VW beetles, and his 1967 Camaro, that he purchased right out of the Navy; this car may have been just what sparked his love of classic automobiles. He also enjoyed going to the many antique stores around the state with Sherry to look for old Singer sewing machines.
Sherry and Gerald enjoyed the trips that they took to family reunions over the years in Minnesota and the many reunions with his shipmates (from the USS Chevalier) in different states across the U.S. The most recent trip was this year in September to Duluth, Minnesota.
Gerald was an incredibly giving person and would never say no to anyone that needed something or help.
Gerald was preceded in death by his father Walter Madsen, infant sister Janice Madsen, mother Thelma Gamma, stepfather Calvin Henry Gamma, sister Joyce Stokes, sons Geremy and Jason Madsen, father-in-law Everett “Tiny” Kelch, mother-in-law Edna Kelch, and brothers-in-law Dean and Bob Kelch.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years Sherry, daughters Jeanice (Jack) Myrtue, Janice (Justin) Mordja, grandchildren Rylin Madsen, Taylor Bilyeu, Gracie Hope, Vanessa and Joselyn Mordja, and great-granddaughter Thea Hardgrove-Mordja; sister Roleen (Carl) Anderson, brother Roland (Ella) Gamma, sisters-in-law Ellen Creighton and Evelyn Kelch, brother-in-law Lloyd (Marcia) Kelch, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and his many friends he has made over the years.
Viewing will be Thursday, Dec. 9, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and services will be Friday, Dec. 10, at 11 a.m. at the Fairgrounds Expo Building with a light lunch to follow, then graveside services at 2 p.m. at the Glacier Memorial Gardens.