Gerald Kortan

Gerald J. "Jerry" Kortan, age 73 of Sauk Centre, died peacefully Tuesday, February 10, 2015 at his farm in Kandota Township, Todd County, Minnesota.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, February 16 at River of Life Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Kyle Peterson officiating. Interment will follow in Long Bridge Lutheran Cemetery in Little Sauk Township, Todd County, Minnesota.

Visitation will be at the church from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday.

Gerald Joseph Kortan was born March 28, 1941 at the Kortan farm in Kandota Township to John and Doris (Johnson) Kortan. He attended high school through the 11th grade. On October 26, 1967 he married Cecilia Burdick at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. He worked at Central Bi Products/Farmer's Union in Long Prairie for 39 years and retired in 2007.

Jerry was a life-long farmer, which he truly enjoyed. He was known as a jack-of-all-trades, that also included auto body repair. In his spare time he enjoyed fishing, watching the History Channel and the Discovery Channel, and was a loving husband, father, and grandfather.

Jerry was a member of River of Life Church, where he served as an usher. He was a former member of Little Sauk-Long Bridge Lutheran Church.

Survivors include, his wife, Cecilia Kortan of Sauk Centre; three children, Cynthia (Marc) Payne of Freeport, Gerald (Kimberly) Kortan of Sauk Centre, and Gregory "Greg" Kortan of Grey Eagle; four grandchildren, Hailey Sherman, Thomas Kortan, Yesenia and Magdalena Payne; sister, Shirley (Ed) Opsal of Temple City, California; and brother, John "Jack" (Dorothy) Kortan of Sauk Centre.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Serving as casket bearers will be Richard Carpenter, Terry Crider, Gene Miller, Ray Deel, Benji Holmquist, and Steve Loesch.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.