Gerald Arthur Preuss

GERALD ARTHUR PREUSS, age 79 of Waseca, passed away on Thursday, February 19, 2015 at his home.

Born in Morristown, MN on October 4, 1935, Jerry was the son of Arthur and Erna (Glende) Preuss.  He attended country school through grade 6, then Waterville Junior High and High School, graduating in 1953.  After working at Bird’s Eye Foods in Waseca and teaching accordion lessons in the evenings for a number of years, he served in the National Guard as a medic at Fort Sam Houston.  In October of 1958 he was married to Ruth Schwartz of Le Center.  He attended one year at Mankato State College and then enrolled at Concordia Seminary in Springfield, IL, graduating in May 1966.  He served in three parishes in Kansas over the years until returning to southern Minnesota following his divorce in 1974.  He went on to work for a time at the E.F. Johnson Company in Waseca and later at Itron.  He was an accomplished accordion player and teacher, loved skating, accumulated collections of nostalgic antique items and guns, and volunteered at the local library, often providing displays of collected memorabilia.

Gerald is survived by three daughters, Dawn (Paul) Maneth of Bellingham, WA, Vikki (Salem) Mustafa of Wichita, KS, and Pam (Joel) Johnson of Apple Valley, MN; six grandchildren, Nawal, Ahmad, and Noah Mustafa, and Nicholas, Olivia, and Jacob Johnson; one sister, Diane (Duane) Schlobohm of Faribault; and two brothers, David (Bette) Preuss of Eyota, and Larry Preuss of Faribault.  He was preceded in death by both of his parents.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at Dennis Funeral & Cremation Services in Waterville, with Rev. David Mumme officiating.  Visitation will be held for one hour before the funeral service at the funeral home on Wednesday.  Interment will take place at Maple Lawn Cemetery in Faribault.

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