Jerry Lee Totman

JERRY LEE TOTMAN was born on November 2, 1955 to Gerald and Audrey (Cambern) Totman in Pipestone, Minnesota. He was baptized and confirmed in the First Presbyterian Church in Pipestone. He attended school in Pipestone, graduating in 1974. As a kid he liked to go fishing, loved playing baseball, and riding motorcycles. He attended Technical School in Mankato, Minnesota for Chef Certificate, graduating in 1976. He lived in Pipestone and worked for Winter Construction, Mid America Pipe, and DeKam Tile, running heavy equipment and laying pipe at these jobs. Jerry suffered a traumatic brain injury as the result of a fall. He was unable to work after this. After his accident he moved to the Nokomis Apartments in Pipestone and lived there for over 20 years. During his life after his accident, Jerry Lee liked to watch any kind of underground construction; his dad would often drive him to a road construction site and they would just sit and watch. After his time in the Nokomis Apartments he moved to several care facilities including the Colonial Manor in Balaton, Minnesota, Edgebrook Care Center in Edgerton, and most recently the REM Home in Canby, Minnesota. Jerry Lee died peacefully on Wednesday, July 14, 2021 at the Sunset Assisted Living in Canby at the age of 65 years, eight months, and 12 days.

Jerry grew up attending the First Presbyterian Church in Pipestone. He enjoyed watching NASCAR and NHRA, the MN Twins, and MN Vikings. He is remembered for his mechanical abilities and for remembering others by their voice, not their face. He always called his brother, Sammy, “Ed” instead. He loved his family above all else and enjoyed being able to cook for them when the opportunity arose. He really enjoyed listening to 50s music, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, and The Who were some of his favorite classic rock bands.

Jerry Lee is lovingly remembered by his dad, Gerald Totman of Pipestone; two brothers, Samuel Totman of Pipestone and Timothy (Judy Wiese) of Pipestone; one sister, Tonia Phengchanh (Brian Lewis) of Banneau, South Carolina; two step-siblings, Laurie (Doug) Fortune and Mark (Nancy) Gardner; and nieces and nephews, Thomas, Tiffany, Tabbetha, and Trinity.  He was preceded in death by his mother, Audrey Totman; step-mother, Rose Totman; brother, Thomas Totman; and one nephew, Timothy Phengchanh.