Gerald Vernon Robinson

Gerald “Jerry” Vernon Robinson, age 83, died February 9, 2019, at St. Cloud Hospital surrounded by his family after a long struggle with a variety of medical conditions.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, February 14, 2019, at Kimball Christian Church with Pastor Jerry Albert officiating. Burial will follow at Kimball Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 13, 2019, at Dingmann Funeral Care Chapel in Kimball with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday.

Jerry was born in Kingston Township to Samuel Robinson and Allie Fern Magnuson on January 12, 1936. He was baptized as a teenager into the Church of Christ in Kimball. He grew up in Kingston Township and graduated from Kimball High School with the Class of 1955. He served in the U.S. Army from 1955-1958. Besides being stationed stateside, he was also stationed in Korea and Japan. Jerry was united in marriage to Janet Hinz on February 8, 1964, in Kimball. After pursuing careers as a meat cutter at Dassel Meat Market and an assembler at Ford Motor Company, he found his true passion as a craftsman through creating wooden and cement lawn ornaments. He founded Robinson Wood Products in South Haven, which later became Robinson Wood and Concrete Products in Kimball and Royalton. After retirement he kept busy assembling tools at Malco Products in Annandale and building wood creations in his garage shop.

Sports were always a big part of Jerry's life. He loved watching the Vikings, Timberwolves, and Twins. He was an avid athlete himself, playing football, basketball, and baseball in high school. He was the first athlete in Kimball High School to score 40 points in one basketball game. He continued to play football and basketball while in the U.S. Army. After his discharge from the U.S. Army, Jerry played town team baseball, independent traveling basketball, and intramural softball and volleyball. He was one of the first inductees into the Kimball High School Athletic Hall of Fame and was a member of the Old Coots Organization with other former Kimball High School athletes.

Jerry was such a kind, caring, and loving man whose sense of humor created many laughs and smiles among family, friends, and even strangers, including the medical staff who worked with him over the last few months. His caring ways and positive outlook on life were a big influence on the lives of his loved ones. Jerry cherished the time he spent with his family. He was their number one fan and was very active in his children’s and grandchildren's sports and activities. He also enjoyed the great outdoors as a hunter in his younger days and fisherman his entire life. He was excited about spending time with family and friends in the boat, in the fish house, and at the fish fry that followed. Jerry took pride in his yard and enjoyed time with Janet while working on creative landscaping projects. He also looked forward to frequent visits with his close friends at Knaus Sausage House, Gohmann's Foods, and Hendricks Bus Garage.

Jerry is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Janet; children, Tracy (Pat) Frank of Wells, MN, Travis (Robin) Robinson of St. Michael, MN, and Tania (Chadd) Novak of River Falls, WI; grandchildren, Max Robinson and Mason and Cadence Novak; nieces and nephews; great nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by two sons, a stillborn son “Baby Boy” and 19-month-old son, Keith Gerald; parents; step-father, Lafe Stanley; four siblings, Waldo Robinson, Marvin Robinson, Lloyd “Tookie” Robinson and Alene Borman.

The pallbearers are David Robinson, James Robinson, Bob Robinson, Terry Robinson, Scott Robinson, James Colberg, John Gohmann, and Casey Gohmann. Joyce Albert and Richard Eckman will provide music for the service. Arrangements are entrusted with Dingmann Funeral Care Burial & Cremation Services.

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