Gerald D. 'Jerry' Schreck, 82

Gerald D. "Jerry" Schreck, 82, of Kalispell, passed away peacefully early in the morning on Dec. 16, 2021. He had been living at the Hidden Meadow Memory Care Center in Columbia Falls.

Jerry came into the world on Sept. 20, 1939, in Appleton, Minnesota. He was the youngest of six children born to Rose and Walter Schreck. He graduated from Appleton High School in 1957 and joined the U.S. Air Force. He was stationed in Alaska as well as the 716th Squadron Kalispell AFS in Lakeside in 1960. After his discharge, he lived in Kalispell and worked for Manions, Bell Campers, as a carpenter, and eventually became a lay minister.

He met Helen Aklestad and they were married in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on Jan. 9, 1967. They were married for 38 years until Helen passed away in February 2005.

Jerry was led by the Holy Spirit to go to college and to become a lay minister. He worked in that capacity at Trinity Lutheran Church from 1991 until his retirement.

Jerry and Helen moved to Mission View Terrace in Lakeside in 1969. They enjoyed many years of living on Flathead Lake while caring for their yard, garden and fruit trees. After Helen passed, Jerry found the house and yard to be too much and moved back to Kalispell.

Although Jerry never had any children, he was an integral part of the Aklestad family and beloved grandpa and great-grandpa to all of the children.

Jerry was preceded in death by his wife Helen, his parents Walter and Rose, his brothers Stanley, Ramon, Leon and Ronald, his sister Darlene, and Helen’s daughter Elaine Keister and grandchildren Sheila Kettel and Bret Aklestad.

Jerry is survived by two sisters-in-law Myrtle (Ramon) Schreck, and Wilma (Ronald) Schreck, as well as many nieces and nephews. He is also mourned by the families of Gary and Beth Aklestad, Lyle and Loretta Aklestad, Robert Keister, and Doug and Cheryl Aklestad. Grandson Robert Aklestad has cared for Grandpa Jerry in his declining years. He and his family were good about visiting with him on a regular basis and keeping him supplied with a cold Bud, jerky, nuts and chocolate.

There will be a visitation held for Jerry on Tuesday, Dec. 28, from 10 to 11 a.m., with services to follow at 11 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Kalispell. A luncheon will follow the service at the church social hall followed with a burial service at 1:30 p.m., with military honors, at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Kalispell.

Memorials can be given to the Trinity Bible Camp, or wherever the donor desires.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.