It’s my honor to say a few words about the remarkable man we’re remembering today, Jerry Engleson.
Most of you know his life story. He was born and grew up in the small town of Benson Minnesota, 75 miles west of here, a town he especially loved. We know this to be true because he had countless stories of growing up there in the 30s and 40s, and detailed and humorous stories of the town’s people.
Joining the Army immediately after graduating from high school was expected of his generation, and the G.I. Bill put him through St. John’s where we’re gathered now. He married Mom on December 27, 1950, and part way through his junior year they started our amazing family.
After graduating, Dad spent a few years teaching in Walhalla, ND, then a few more in Perham, MN, before capitalizing on an opportunity to study for his Masters degree in Biology at the University of Northern Iowa.
Then, and we know this was God’s plan and the answer to Mom’s prayers, the opportunity of his life presented itself. He, Mom and 6 of us kids wound up on Ramey AFB in northwest Puerto Rico where we lived together for 13 years. Dad often told us that those years in Puerto Rico were he and Mom’s favorite years together, raising their large family (that now included David) in a tropical paradise.
When the base closed in 1973, he and Mom took jobs in Germany and spent 17 years there continuing to raise their youngest 3 kids, exploring and enjoying Europe. After the Iron Curtain came down in 1989, they retired and built a lake house in Barrett, MN. Although they spent many relaxing years there, they finally moved to Mesa, AZ where they enjoyed the company of family and many, many friends. We all know how much they loved their time together in Mesa, and many of us spent a lot of time there with them.
That’s a brief recap of Dad’s life story, but that doesn’t describe the Jerry we all knew. The Jerry Engleson we knew was one of a kind. Bigger than life for all of us gathered here today.
He made lifelong friends at every stage of his life and everywhere he lived. Dad had a commanding presence about him, a confidence, a quick wit and a sense of humor that attracted people and won them over.
He had an incredible memory for people and events going back 50, 60, 70 even 80 years, and the stories he’d tell of those friends who meant so much to him during his life are a part of all of us to this day. He genuinely enjoyed an audience.
He was a teacher that inspired many hundreds of students over the course of 35 years of high school and college-level teaching. He was voted Teacher of the Year, how many times, in how many schools? He made a lasting impression on his High School students. He taught them Biology, but he also taught them how to shake hands, he helped them get Social Security cards, he encouraged them to read for pleasure, and as a guidance counselor he got scores of high school graduates into universities that they might not have without his help.
He documented our growing up years, our daily family life, and our family travels in slides and photos. An amazing achievement considering the time and expense, yet another part of the legacy he left us.
He was a remarkable golfer, as all of us know firsthand. Besides winning countless shortstop and collegiate tournaments, and setting course records on several courses, he won the Puerto Rico Amateur Championship in 1963. His 11 holes-in-one won’t be matched by any of us, but some of us can proudly say we caddied for him when he was in his prime.
He was a father who taught us by his example. We were in awe of him, very proud of him, and afraid of disappointing him all throughout our growing up years. He was a good father and great role model, not only for the 7 of us kids, but to many others he and Mom “adopted”.
Most importantly, Dad loved Catherine, our Mom. Sixty years of marriage, 7 kids, 13 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren are proof of that. And now Dad is where he’s wanted to be for the last 13 years since Mom died – with her in eternity.
OK, time to lighten this up a bit, so how about we review the Engleson Rules that he and Mom handed down to us. I’ll start, you finish.
- Be on time – every time.
- Don’t sleep in – it’s a waste of time.
- Get to the airport – 3 hours before you fly.
- Your opinion counts – voice it.
- Golf, and if you’re not golfing today – play cards.
- Watch a game – any game.
- Get home in time for – dinner.
- Friday night is – “Happy Hour”.
- No coke – without rum.
- Exercise your mind, work a – crossword puzzle.
- Read westerns by – Louis L’Amour.
- Go to – college.
- Stick together and – don’t let anyone bully you.
- Keep it – simple.
- Don’t blow – your own horn.
- Suffer – in silence.
- Go to Mass, preferably – 7:00am Mass.
- If you screw up – ‘fess up.
- Above all remember – everyone wants to be an Engleson.
And finally, thanks Dad:
- For the root beer floats,
- For the rum Cokes,
- For the cross-country summer vacations,
- For the dollar-an-hour jobs,
- For our educations,
- For your stories,
- For your example, and
- For the incredible extended family gathered here to honor you!
R.I.P.
Delivered by Joe Engleson, St. Johns University, July 7, 2025