Jerry J. Kifer, Sr.

Jerry J. Kifer, Sr. age 63, of Little Falls, MN, passed away Saturday, June 22, 2013, at St. Gabriels Hospital in Little Falls, MN.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 27, 2013 at Emblom-Brenny Funeral Service, 900 First Street SE, Little Falls, MN, with Rev. Keith Thompson officiating.Interment will be in Bearhead Cemetery, Pillsbury, MN.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 27, 2013, at Emblom-Brenny Funeral Service in Little Falls, MN.

Jerry Jay Kifer, Sr. was born on April 8, 1950, in Pierre, South Dakota the son of Earl & Edna (Hayne) Kifer.He grew up as the son of a dam builder and attended a number of elementary schools.His high school years were spent in Arkansas.He was united in marriage to Elaine Fry on September 9, 1967 in the Methodist Church in Bismark, Arkansas.The couple shared many wonderful years together and later divorced.He was married to Donna Ness on February 6, 1986 in South Dakota.The couple enjoyed many wonderful years together and later divorced in 1998.Jerry spent much of his childhood in South Dakota in the prairie dog fields, Nebraska and Kansas. After marrying in Arkansas, he lived all over as he followed his occupation from Texas to North Dakota and finally settling in Minnesota.Jerry worked for Shade Tree Service Company as a tree trimmer along the power lines from Texas to North Dakota.After settling in Minnesota, he worked at Xcel Optical for many years and most recently at Larson Boats.He had a life-long dream of owning his own tree trimming business with his sons and started J & J Tree Service in 1996, and continued until his retirement.In his retirement, he accomplished another life-long dream of panning for gold in Alaska with family and friends.When not working, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, hobby farming, gardening, and most of all spending time with his family and friends.He had a devout faith in God and believed in tithing ten percent of his wages, most of it going to support the Jewish people in Israel.Jerry was saved and baptized at the Baptist Church in Eldorado Springs, Missouri in the late 1970s. That began the change in his life that he endeavored to live out the rest of his life. His priorities became, God, family and then country. He prayed for his children and grandchildren every day.He was a member of the Electrical Workers Union (National Electrical Benefits Fund).

Left to cherish his memory are his children, April Kifer of Hughes Springs, TX, Laurie (Scott) Skipper of Hughes Springs, TX, Julie Ables of Hughes Springs, TX, Jay (Jenny) Kifer of Little Falls, MN, Jake Kifer of Foley, MN, and Lance Kifer of Foley, MN; sister, Donna Smith of Fargo, ND; ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Earl & Edna Kifer; brothers, Larry and Terry Kifer; sister, Darla Hendricks, and precious granddaughter, Haile Kifer.

Honorary pallbearers will be Coty Breazeale, Corey Kifer, Aaron Ables, Jackie Spangler, Michael Rosegrant, and Casey Jones.

Active casket bearers will be Scott Skipper, Lane Skipper, Logan Skipper, Larry Kifer, Dillon Kifer, and Austin Edwards.