Jerald Jerry Leslie Monson was born in Owatonna on July 20, 1935 to his parents, Dorothy E. (Wood) and Leslie Monson. Jerry graduated as an honor student in 1953 from Owatonna High School. He married Mary Carolyn Imbody of Owatonna (his high school sweetheart) in 1956. In the following 10 years, they lived in Dallas, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; and Maryville, Tennessee. They have three children: Jerald L. Monson, Jr. (Lois), Lynn Ellyn Pflugrath and John Stearns Monson (Diane). They returned to Minnesota so that Jerry could complete his college education at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. He reversed his strategy for a college education and went to school full time and worked part time as an Agent and Office Manager for Minneapolis Insurance Agency. Jerry graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business in 1967. He achieved an MBA from the U of M in 1980. They returned to Owatonna when Jerry, after graduating, was rehired by Federated to be Systems and Procedures Manager in the Home Office. Jerry had a varied and fulfilling business career that gave him work experience and insight into 8 different industries (Newspaper, Retail, Insurance, Real Estate, Manufacturing, Computer, Consulting, and Education) starting as a newspaper carrier at age 9. He held many different positions with Federated Insurance in Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, and Owatonna. He joined Wenger Corporation in 1968 and served in many positions retiring as Vice President and Corporate Officer in 1988. He retired from business to pursue a vision for needed partnering between workplaces and education. He worked several years as Vice President of Customized Training for Riverland Community College and was called to join the MN Dept. of Education as a Partnership Development Specialist. He retired again in 1996 but continued an active involvement in volunteer activities and mentoring individual young people on their career plans. He was an active volunteer for ISD 761; Technology Plus, Mankato; Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce; United Methodist Church; State Task Force on Condition of Education Industry - Humphrey Institute - U of M; Minnesota Vocational Association; Norris Foundation, St. Paul; State Steering Committee on Youth Apprenticeship; State Council on Vocation Education; and Sales/Marketing Executives of Minneapolis. He wrote and published articles for Owatonna People's Press; Manufacturing Engineering magazine; Communique - a magazine of State Council on Vo-Tech Education; Minnesota Technology; Telemarketing Magazine; and Youth Apprenticeship Bulletin. Has was recognized Groundbreaker by SMIF in October, 2009 and KTTC-TV Rochester award June, 2009 as one of Ten people who make a difference. He had a wide variety of hobbies and interests from writing, mentoring young people on careers, reading, traveling, coin collecting, woodworking, and gardening, to sports, especially golfing, tennis, hiking, biking, fishing, and hunting. Jerry is survived by his wife of 62 years, Mary; 3 children, Jay (Lois), Lynn Pflugrath, John (Diane); 9 grandchildren, Jer (Jenn), Tom, Ann (James), Jonathan, AJ (Tiffany), Jessica, Kyle, Connor, Christofer, and 2 great-granddaughters, Hadley and Elli all of whom he enjoyed immensely. A visitation will be held at Michaelson Funeral Home in Owatonna on Tuesday, September 25th from 4:00 to 7:00 PM and at church one hour prior to the service. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at United Methodist Church in Owatonna with the Reverend Loren Olson officiating. A private interment will be held at a later date in Forest Hill Cemetery in Owatonna. Memorials preferred to SE MN Initiative Fund, Owatonna Foundation, Owatonna United Methodist Church or Owatonna Hospice House. Visitation: 09/25/2018 16:00 09/25/2018 19:00 Service: and at church one hour prior to the service. 09/26/2018 11:00