Gerald Vernon Horazuk

3/9/1941 – 9/12/2021

Jerry was born March 9, 1941 to Harry and Josephine (Alick) Horazuk in Minneapolis, MN.  He was the third in a family of 8 children.  Jerry grew up on Harriet Ave in Minneapolis and attended West High School until he enlisted in the United States Air Force.  After boot camp, he was stationed at Loring Airforce Base, ME, Cape Lisburne, AK, and finally Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, NM. He was honorably discharged on January 4, 1967.  His service to his country wasn’t complete as he joined the National Guard where he served until he was honorably discharged on May 20, 1976.  He took great pride in his service throughout his life and was a member of the American Legion.

After his time in the Air Force, Jerry returned to Minnesota where he met the love of his life, JoEllen Anderson.  Jerry and JoEllen were united in marriage on April 29, 1967.  They made their home in Minneapolis and welcomed son, Tim.  They bought their first house on St. Paul Ave in Minneapolis and added sons Dave and Joel to the family. In 1979, they moved into their forever home in Loretto on Lake Sarah where they continued to raise their boys, welcome their grandkids and great-grandkids, and eventually enjoyed living their busy retired lives.  Jerry enjoyed camping with Jo in their 5th wheel and traveling with friends.  He was always game for jumping on a train or in a U-Haul.  He will be greatly missed on the annual fishing trips he took to Canada and Northern Minnesota.

Jerry started working as a 49er crane operator for B&S Crane Services.  In 1973 he began working for Metro Transit as a bus driver.  Shortly after, he moved into a dispatch position on the night shift.  He worked his way to a district supervisor position where he stayed until he retired on March 5, 2003.  He enjoyed his job and liked telling stories of his time behind the wheel of his company car.

In 2007, Jerry and Jo became snowbirds and began spending their winters in Mesa, Arizona, where they made numerous friends, first on 8th Street and then on 10th when they purchased their park model.  Jerry enjoyed spending time with friends and family who would come and watch his play his banjo on Sunday afternoons at Mesa Regal. They loved hosting their family, taking them to Tortilla Flat and the Mesa Market.

Jerry was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in May 2020.  He fought with determination, always retaining his sense of humor.  He never complained, always responding with “I’m good” when asked how he was doing.  Jerry passed away at home on September 12, 2021.  He is survived by his wife JoEllen; sons Tim (Kelli) Horazuk, Dave (Heather) Horazuk, and Joel (Becky) Horazuk; grandchildren Cori (Dan) O’Reilley, Ryan Horazuk, Ally Horazuk, Blake Horazuk, and Maggie Horazuk; great grandchildren Gage O’Reilley and Emersyn O’Reilley; siblings Roger (Sandy) Horazuk, Jeanne (Nick) Nickelson, Sharon McLaren, Doreen Drake; sister-in-law Jean (Larry) Winkelman; brother-in-law Jim Anderson, many nieces, nephews, and more friends than one can count. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Josephine Horazuk; in-laws Henry and Julia Anderson; brother Jim (Darlene) Horazuk; sisters Audrey Adams and Kate (Colin) Emmerson; nephew Steve Horazuk; niece Lisa Horazuk; sister-in-law Geraldine Anderson and brothers-in-law Don Hofman and Pat McLaren.

A Memorial Service honoring Jerry was held at 11 am on October 2, 2021 at Christ Lutheran Church in Maple Plain.  A Gathering of family and friends was 1 hour before the service and lunch was served following.  Inurnment with Military Honors at Fort Snelling National Cemetery on Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at 1:30 PM.