Jerome Albert Deal

     Jerome Albert Deal, age 77, of Wheaton, MN passed away on October 18, 2024. Jerome was born in Graceville, MN, on March 5, 1947, the youngest of four children of Albert and Florence (Marcus) Deal. He was baptized and confirmed Catholic at Ave Maria Catholic Church and later became an active member and former church board chairman at Good Shepherd Lutheran in Wheaton. Jerome attended Meadowview District 38 Country School, Herman, MN until the second grade, and then onto Wheaton where he graduated in 1965 with honors. In his high school years, he participated in track, theater, and debate prior to earning his Electrical Degree from North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton, ND. After college, he married Lynn Macey and worked for seven years on missile sites in Minot, ND for the National Electrical Contractors Association. They raised three boys prior to divorcing. In 1974 Jerome resumed farming with family on their farm west of Herman, MN, later farming with son, Steven. At that same time, he founded Jerry’s Electric as a Master Electrician, later taking on his son, Ryan (electrician), as a business associate. In 1993 he met Carol Samuelson, and they shared their life together in Wheaton.

     Jerome was active on many government boards, including being a founding member of the Boise de Sioux Watershed, State Former Chairman for the Minnesota State Board of Water & Soil (3 years as chair), Regional Co-Chair for the Flood Damage Reduction Work Group in the Red River Valley, member of the State Drainage Committee, Red River Watershed Management Board, Minnesota Environmental Quality Board, Chair of the Minnesota Dispute Resolution Committee, Board of Water & Soil Resources (BWSR), Traverse County Planning Commission/Board of Adjustment, local Clifton Township Board, among other organizations throughout the years.

     Jerome was the Traverse County Fair Board President for thirty plus years and was instrumental for securing state funding for updates needed at the fairgrounds and funds for maintaining the property and buildings. He took great pride in the attendance and recognition over the years, donating endless hours and physically working on the buildings to prepare them for the fair and other events held on the grounds. He held a pyrotechnic license to assist his older brother, John, with the firework display at Shady Dell (Lake Traverse) on the Fourth of July and the Traverse County Fair, drawing thousands of viewers over the years.

     His love for hunting and fishing lead him to buy a cabin on Lake Traverse. He enjoyed spending time at the lake, local hunting adventures, and some favorite hunting trips in Wyoming with his sons. His favorite fishing trip was to Mobridge, SD. His biggest fish caught were a twenty-five lb. Northern and nine and a half lb. Walleye – both caught on Lake Traverse. The biggest deer that he shot was a thirteen pointer in Wyoming, which he proudly had mounted and resides in his home office. In his spare time, he enjoyed early morning coffee in town with friends, sci-fi TV shows, slot machines/casinos, travels on cruise lines, live entertainment, a good cheeseburger and onion rings, Delmonico steak, watermelon, a maple glazed donut, Carol’s baking, smoking Winston Reds, slip-on loafers, cuddles with his cats (Boots, Lucky, and Miss Lilly), fishing off the dock, driving his red Ford truck (with the SPARKY license plate), collecting Lionel Trains and guns, tuning into politics, maintaining his yard, sharing a good story or a joke, and reminiscing. He was a constant educator of all things. He was proud of his community and enjoyed sharing highlights with all that were interested. Family and friends will miss his willingness to help with their projects. He would say, “If someone could build it, I can fix it”. There was no electrical job too difficult for him. His sharp memory made it easy to rely on him for historical data, repairing, and building things. He was a friend to many. He was proud of his family and loved seeing the little ones as they were growing up. 

     Survivors include his long-time companion, Carol Samuelson (Wheaton, MN); sons: Steven (Melissa) Deal (Herman, MN), Ryan (Carol) Deal (Wheaton, MN), Erik Deal (Amy Churchill) (Wheaton, MN); siblings: James (Pam) Deal (Anoka, MN), John (Lois) Deal (Herman, MN), Joanne Dobberstein (Herman, MN); grandchildren: Zackery (Makenna) Deal, Isaac Deal (Emily Ratajczak), Owen Deal, Trey Deal (Brandie DeHate), Elyssa Ogle, Adriana (Bradley) Westrom, McKenna Sanstead, and Emily Sanstead; and great grandchildren Brooks, Carter, Madalynn, Theodore, Roman, and Zayn. Other surviving loved ones include: Carol Samuelson’s daughter’s Genn (Ron) Bervig (Halstad, MN), NaLoni (Patrick) Spence (Maple Grove, MN); Carol’s grandchildren: Chelsie (Nick) Froning, Elissa Nygaard (Jordan Hayes), Andrew Bervig, Megan Spence, Mitchell Spence (Sydney Bartels); and great grandchildren: Dakota, Marshall, Phoenix, Elianna, Gaetana, Aiden, Zaniyah, and Leo.

     Jerome was preceded in death by his parents.

     A special thank you to Jerome’s life partner, Carol, and CHI Health at Home Hospice for their compassionate care as the family honored his end of life wish to remain at home. Rest in peace, Jerome – you are so loved and will be forever missed.

     Funeral Services will be held Saturday, October 26, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Wheaton, Minnesota with Rev. Cheryl Berg officiating. Visitation will be held Friday, October 25th from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. Prayer Service and Time of Sharing at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. Visitation will continue Saturday morning one hour prior to service time at the church.

     Interment will be in Wildwood Cemetery, Wheaton. Pallbearers will be Zackery Deal, Isaac Deal, Trey Deal, Owen Deal, Mitchell Spence and Andrew Bervig. Honorary Pallbearers will be the Traverse County Fair Board Members Jerry previously served with. Additional Honorary Pallbearers include previous board members from the various boards that Jerry represented over the years, as well as his longtime coffee buddies.

     Memorials are preferred to Traverse County Agricultural Assn-County Fair, PO Box 865, Wheaton, MN 56296 or CHI Health at Home (Hospice Care of Breckenridge, MN), 1110 US-75, Suite A, Breckenridge, MN 56520.