Jerry Howard Grayson, age 72, of Medford, WI, died Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at Owatonna Hospital.
Jerry was born September 14, 1944 in Braham, MN the son of Ernest Dale and Ruth Dorothy (Lindstrom) Grayson. He grew up in Braham where he attended school and met his high school sweetheart Beverly Swanson. They were King and Queen of their high school prom in 1962. Growing up Jerry loved baseball. He played high school and legion ball. Following high school, Jerry attended University of MN, Duluth graduating in 1966.
He then enlisted into the United States Army and was stationed with his wife in Germany in 1967. In 1968, the couple came home and Jerry started his career with State Farm in Rochester where he was a claims adjuster for 15 years. Jerry and Bev moved to Owatonna in 1978 where Jerry opened his State Farm Insurance Agency. Through those years, Jerry was involved in United Way, Medford School Board, Clinton Falls Township Board, Elder and Sunday school teacher at Trinity Lutheran in Medford.
After his retirement from State Farm in 2002, Jerry drove school bus for the Medford School. He loved the kids he drove and talked about them up until his passing. All the students loved him and looked forward to the bus ride. He also got to drive the bus for his grandkids who were his pride and joy.
In his free time, Jerry loved rebuilding and painting cars and tractors with his sons. He was an avid golfer. He went to work for a farmer, not for money, but to be able to get corn to feed his deer that he watched daily at his residence in Medford. Jerry loved his acreage east of Medford and was always working on projects. You would also find him many evenings playing his guitar and singing along to his favorite songs. Jerry and Bev had a cabin in Aitkin, where he loved to fish, golf, and having his kids and grandkids visit there whenever possible.
Jerry loved going on golf cart rides with his grandkids, taking them to the fair each year, going to all of their sporting and dance events. He was always going to make it to a recital or sporting event no matter what.
Jerry was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) in 2012. At that time the prognosis was not good, but he was not going to let it get to him and lived a very good life. He stayed strong and positive right until the end. He never stopped taking “walks,” continuing to ride his wheelchair outside if the weather allowed and taking laps around the house and through the garage if the weather wasn’t cooperative.
Jerry also enjoyed spending time with his friends having coffee in the mornings either at McDonalds, Whistle Stop or Hy Vee, depending on which day of the week is was.
He is survived by his wife Beverly Grayson of Medford; sons, Michael (Jennifer) Grayson of Owatonna; Patrick (Amy) Grayson of Owatonna and Timothy (Jessica) Grayson of Medford; six grandchildren, Reid, Paige, Austin, Bryce, Henry and Will; brother, Richard (Linda) Grayson of Esko; sister-in-law, Debra (Todd) Keith of Woodbury, and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister-in-law, Audrey (Carl) Peterson.
Visitation will be at Michaelson Funeral Home, Owatonna on Tuesday, October 25, 2016 from 4 to 7 p.m. and one hour prior to the service at the church. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, October 26, 2016 at 11 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Medford with The Reverend Mark Biebighauser officiating. Full military honors will be conducted by Steele County Military Funeral Unit following the service at the church. Memorials are preferred to ALS Foundation or Paralyzed Veterans of America.
Michaelson Funeral Homes, Inc.
1930 Austin Road, P.O. Box 482,
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 451-7943
