Gerald Oliver Rohlfsen

In loving memory of Gerald O. Rohlfsen May 19, 1943 - June 18, 2026 Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 26, 2026, at Washburn-McReavy Funeral Home in Edina for Gerald "Jerry" Rohlfsen, who passed away Thursday, June 18. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the services. Jerry was born on May 19, 1943, at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C. When he was four years old, he and his family moved to Faribault, Minnesota, where his father and uncle opened a bowling alley. In 1958, Jerry's father sold his share of the bowling alley and purchased a 93-acre farm in Cannon City, Minnesota. There, as a teenager, Jerry developed the strong work ethic that would define his adult life, taking on responsibilities such as planting and harvesting crops and milking cows each morning before school at 5:30 a.m. Jerry graduated from Faribault High School in 1961 and earned his degree from Mankato State University in 1966, majoring in psychology, sociology, and economic geography. During his sophomore year, he captained the MSU bowling team to an NCAA championship. The ultimate highlight of his college experience was meeting his lifelong partner and wife of almost 60 years, Anna Eichinger of New Ulm, Minnesota. Together, they raised two children Jerry proudly called "the best kids one could ask for," Michael and Joanna. He was also deeply involved in the lives of his five grandchildren whom he adored: Sophia, Maria, and Isabella Rohlfsen, and Adam and Benjamin Rebischke. In August 1966, Jerry entered Officer Candidate School in the U.S. Marine Corps, ultimately training at a 32-week Vietnamese Language School in Arlington, Virginia. During his 13-month deployment, he served as a Civil Affairs Officer in Phu Bai, Vietnam, where it was his job to win the hearts and minds of the civilian population. He and his team spent six days a week outside the barbed wire building roads, digging wells, and treating people for minor ailments, while also teaching English to young people and Catholic nuns. Upon his discharge from the Marine Corps, Jerry began his 30-year career with Cargill Inc. as a territory sales representative. He went on to earn four promotions that each prompted a family move, concluding his career in 2000 as Vice President of the Cargill Salt Division before entering early retirement. Jerry loved to travel and visited 48 countries, 35 of them with Anna. His work took him frequently to the Far East and Australia. He enjoyed golfing, fishing in Minnesota and Canada (two walleyes over 30 inches!), and collecting antiques and Southwest art. Together, Jerry and Anna established a Donor Advised Fund supporting mostly education and healthcare initiatives. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and mentor, Jerry was direct and demanding but always fair, a man of the highest integrity. He was the life of every gathering, naturally drawing people into his orbit. He left a lasting impression on all he encountered - from friends, relatives, and caregivers to cashiers and waitstaff. "My life has been full," Jerry recently said. "I am satisfied." In addition to his wife, children, and grandchildren, survivors include Jerry's brother Duane (Shirley) Rohlfsen, daughter-in-law Mimi Cho-Rohlfsen, and son-in-law Robert Rebischke. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Lillian Rohlfsen. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial dedications be made to the Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery (www.crisisnursery.org)