Gerald “Jerry” Albert, 77

Pastor Gerald “Jerry” Albert died Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, at his Kimball home, with his wife at his side. He was 77.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, at Kimball Christian Church in Kimball with Pastors John Taplin, Kevin White, and Robert Blanchard presiding. Visitation will be from 3-7 p.m. Friday, and one hour prior to the service Saturday, both at the church. A prayer service will be held at 7:15 p.m. Friday at the church with Pastor Gerald Volk presiding. The service will be live-streamed on the funeral home website.

Gerald Lee Albert was born July 28, 1944, in Ladysmith, Wis., to Harold and Esther (Lyons) Albert. The family lived on a dairy farm where Jerry enjoyed working with the animals and crops. Jerry’s father died when Jerry was 14; the family remained on the farm, but no longer worked the farm. Jerry graduated from Holcombe High School in Holcombe, Wis., with the Class of 1962. He attended one year of college in Stevens Point, Wis., prior to meeting his future wife Joyce Burnett at Minnesota Bible College in Minneapolis. They were united in marriage at the Church of Christ in Forest Lake, Minn., on June 17, 1967. Jerry earned his Bachelor of Theology degree in 1970 from Minnesota Bible College. In 1985, he earned his Master of Ministry degree from Kentucky Christian College.

Jerry served in full-time Christian ministry as a preacher and pastor for more than 40 years, retiring in 2006. Over the years, he has served the Church of Christ in Eagle Lake, New Brighton Christian in New Brighton, Valley Christian in Moorhead, and 25 years at the Kimball Church of Christ (now Kimball Christian Church). He has remained an active member of the Kimball Christian Church in retirement.

Jerry was an active part of not only the churches he served, but he was also an integral part of the community. He has served as President of the Minnesota Christian Convention, a board member at Pine Haven Christian Assembly in Park Rapids, trustee of the Minnesota Bible College, and served as chaplain for the Kimball Fire Department for 17 years. Jerry also started the Kimball Ministerial Association with other pastors, has been involved in Kimball Dollars For Scholars, Early Childhood Education, Chamber of Commerce, and in several community planning meetings. Jerry’s efforts have been recognized with the Chief’s Award by the Kimball Fire Department in 2020, and he and Joyce were selected the 2021 Kimball Days Grand Marshals.

Jerry enjoyed hunting, fishing, motorcycling, and woodworking. Time spent with his family was always the most important part of his life. His love and compassion for his family, community, and faith will always be remembered and will be deeply missed.

Jerry was preceded in death by his father Harold Albert and mother Esther Howard, and stepfather Don Howard.

He is survived by his wife Joyce of Kimball; daughter Jennifer (and Gerald) Volk of Watertown, S.D., and son Jonathan (and Kathleen) Albert of Parks, Ariz.; grandchildren Kendra (and Graiden) Keil, Carter, Cheyenne, Shelby, Alyssa and Nolan Volk, Miranda (and Hunter) Berggren, Monte and Melodie Albert; great-grandsons Jason, Logan and Weston Keil; brother Lawrence (and Opal) Albert, and sister Fawn (and Jerry) Emblom; and many other relatives and friends.

Casket bearers will be Richard Eckman, Carmon Goff, Sherman Minter, Tom Sommers, Dave Frank, Bryan Bruns, Ed Goff, Jack Miller, Ken Voigt, and Mark Magnuson. Robert Blanchard, Penny Blanchard, Lori Miller, Shari Goff, Tracy Bruns, and Riley Fournier will provide music for the service. Eulogies will be provided by Jon Albert and Miranda Berggren. Arrangements are entrusted with Dingmann Funeral Care Burial & Cremation Services of Kimball. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Kimball Christian Church Building Fund or Gloryview Ranch Ministries.