Gerald "Jerry" Eugene Kirchmeier was born August 3rd, 1938 in Ada, MN, to George and Anna (Pagel) Kirchmeier. Gerald was the youngest of 4 children in the family. He passed away Tuesday, June 9th, 2015 at his home under the care of Hospice and his loving family. Gerald was 76 years old.

Gerald has been a lifelong member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Green Meadow Township, where he was baptized and confirmed. Gerald worked on the family farm alongside his father for many years growing small grain crops, corn, and potato crops and tended to dairy cows, beef cattle, pigs and chickens. He loved his dogs and cats. Gerald attended school in Ada, until he graduated in 1957. On November 23rd, 1963, he was united in marriage to Clarene Hanson. Gerald worked for American Crystal Sugar Co., Hillsboro, ND; he also had a variety of other work experiences over the years. Gerald & Clarene together have three children: Stacey, Kathryn & Julie.

On June 15th, 1987 he was united in marriage to Julie Ann Brend in Watertown, SD, and together they had three children: Jeremy, Jonathan & Janine. Gerald loved to go fishing, hunting, gardening, shooting clay pigeons, reading his bible, going for car rides in the country side and visiting with friends and family.

He is survived by his loving wife, Julie Ann Brend-Kirchmeier, 6 children: Stacey (Eric) Hoven (Ada, MN), Kathy (Brent) Tufte (Twin Valley, MN), Julie (Charles) Bitker (Ada, MN), Jeremy (Noor) Kirchmeier (Hillsboro, ND), Jon Kirchmeier (Ada, MN) & Janine Kirchmeier (Moorhead, MN), eleven grandchildren and one due in July, and two great-grandchildren, a niece, Sharon Christensen, nephews, Ron Peterson & Jeffrey Kirchmeier, a sister-in-law, Betty Kirchmeier, two brothers-in-law, Lyle & Gary Brend and numerous family members. Gerald was preceded in death by his parents, George & Anna, his two brothers, Alfred and Orville, one sister, Florence (Glenn) Peterson, two nieces, Glenda Peterson Larson & Georgianna Conrad, one nephew, Robert "Bobby" Peterson, his mother-in-law, Helene Brend, a brother-in-law, Glenn Peterson and sister-in-law, Helen Kirchmeier.

Funeral: 2:00PM Tuesday, June 16, 2015 at St John's Lutheran Church, rural Ada.

Visitation: 5-7PM Monday with a 6:30 prayer service at Fredrikson-Ganje Funeral Home, Ada.

Burial: St John's Lutheran Cemetery, rural Ada.