GERALD LESTER WALLERSTEDT (better known as "Jerry") was born July 8, 1931 in Oakland, Nebraska to Theodore Clinton and Eunice Viola (Nelson) Wallerstedt. He grew up on a farm east of town settling in Oakland after college and military service.  He died on July 2, 2010 at the age of 78 where he was born, Oakland Memorial Hospital.  During his life he traveled much of the northern hemisphere and impacted many lives.

Jerry graduated from Oakland High School in 1949. He attended college for two years at Nebraska Wesleyan and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  In 1951 he enlisted in the United States Air Force.  Jerry was stationed at Lackland Air Base in Texas for a year and then at Kessler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi. In 1953 he was transferred to Thule Air Force Base in Thule, Greenland where he served for 54 weeks during the Korean War.

When Jerry got out of the service in 1955, he initially worked with his dad and brother Norman on the family farm.  On January 7, 1957, Jerry purchased Traub Feeds in Oakland.  After changing the name to Jerry Wallerstedt Feeds,  this business became his livelihood for more than 36 years.  Jerry retired in 1993, just before marrying off the youngest of his three daughters. 

Jerry married Ruth Edelle Nelson on June 30th, 1957.  To this union four children were born: Karen Blanc who lives in Oakland, Karla Scheve who lives in the country south of Lincoln, Perry who died at birth, and Krisa Schonert who lives in Algona, Iowa.

Jerry served on the Oakland City Council for a number of years and tirelessly sought economic development for Oakland and the Fremont area as chairman of the Oakland Industrial Development Corporation and as a representative for the Northeast Nebraska Development District. He loved meeting people and promoting and supporting Oakland.  Jerry and Ruth were charter members of the Friends of Oakland Foundation.   Jerry was also a proud member of American Legion Post 46 and the Oasis Investment Club.  Together he and Ruth were a formidable team in numerous bridge clubs.

Alcoholics Anonymous became an important part of Jerry's life 30 years ago.  He would have received his 30 year sobriety pin later this summer.  Jerry became a tough mentor and a needed friend to many through AA. AA gave him a purpose-driven life.

Jerry's living legacy includes his wife Ruth, their three daughters and sons-in-law: Karen and Mike Blanc, Karla and Bob Scheve, Kris and Jim Schonert, 16 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild: Evian and Andrew Schindler and daughter Isabella of Lincoln; Buck Blanc of Omaha; PFC Baker Blanc of Camp Lejeune, NC; Kylie Blanc of Lincoln; Mallory, Susanne, and Mollie Blanc of Oakland; Emily and Barrett Freeman of Dallas, TX; Abby Hyslop of Minneapolis, MN; Hannah Hyslop of Lincoln; Ted Scheve of Raleigh, NC; Samuel Scheve and Jessica Scheve of Firth, NE; and Morgan, Adam, and Isaac Schonert of Algona, IA as well as Jerry's brother Norman and sister-in-law Nancy Wallerstedt. These survivors and Jerry's AA family will carry on his mission to meet, greet and be a friend. His was a wonderful life.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Tuesday, July 6, 2010, 10:30 a.m. at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oakland.

MILITARY HONORS: American Legion Post No. 46 and Ryan VFW Post No. 5543

BURIAL: Oakland Cemetery

VISITATION: Monday, July 5, 2010, with the family receiving friends from 5 - 8 p.m. at Pelan Funeral Home in Oakland.

MEMORIALS: Friends of Oakland Foundation

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Each condolence will be printed and given to the family after the service.

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