Gerald Mahlberg

GERALD 'JERRY' MAHLBERG was born to Eric and Mildred (Carlson) Mahlberg on November 15, 1940 in Worthington, Minnesota. He was raised in Worthington and attended Worthington High School graduating in 1958. After high school Jerry enlisted in the United States Navy in July of 1958. He was stationed on the USS Lexington and worked as a specialist mechanic in maintenance of aircraft. He was united in marriage in 1960 though they later divorced. Jerry was honorably discharged on July 30, 1961 and upon his return he settled in Fremont, California and he began his employment with United Airlines. He rode the bus to work for 30 years and “loved every minute” of his career as a lead mechanic with the airline at their maintenance base located in San Francisco. He also completed a two year Aeronautics Technical Program in California. Jerry specialized in sheet metal work with jet engines. In 1996, he moved to Avon, Indiana continuing as lead mechanic on jet engines and serving as a floater and observer of airframe quality checks. He retired in 1999. Jerry’s passion for engines carried over to his lifetime hobby of fixing and restoring cars. He co-founded the LOBES Hot-rod Club in Worthington and raced many cars over the years, proudly belonging to the “Low Buck” racing team. He eventually moved to Luverne, Minnesota where his sister lived in 2010. Jerry became a resident of the Minnesota Veterans Home in June of 2013. In the spring of 2016, Jerry became a resident at Golden Living Center in Slayton, Minnesota.

On Saturday, December 31, 2016 Jerry died at the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at the age of 76 years, 1 month and 16 days.

Jerry will be lovingly remembered by his daughter, Robin and her husband David Elgin of Fremont, California; three granddaughters, Corrine, Carly, and Candice; sister, Signe and her husband, Buck Underwood of Luverne; two brothers, Doug and his wife Andrea Mahlberg of Portland, Oregon, and Steven and his wife Jean Mahlberg of Littleton, Colorado.