Gerald Puckett ’63 P91

An obituary shared by Lois Puckett

Gerald Gene Puckett was born on May 15, 1942 in Ponca, Nebraska, the son of Neil Frank and Hollos Frances (nee Munson) Puckett. He was raised in Nebraska, Idaho and Iowa. He went to high school at Shattuck School in Faribault, Minnesota, where he graduated in 1960.

Jerry had many fond memories of time spent, as a child, with his grandparents, Willard and Florence Munson, especially on the Kellogg Homestead in Allen, Nebraska.

Jerry’s courtship days were spent with Lois going to concerts, plays, out to dinner and on picnics while Jerry attended Carleton College, where he graduated in 1963. They were married on June 29, 1963 at Carleton College Chapel. They then spent their honeymoon on a fire lookout tower on Dalton Mountain, Lincoln, Montana for two months. Jerry and Lois were married 26 years.

They lived in Missoula, Montana, while Jerry went to Montana State University Law School for one year. He then took a position as a revenue officer with the IRS in Butte, Montana, serving in this capacity for twenty-one years. They also lived in Lakeville, Houston, and Rosemount, Minnesota while being transferred with the government.

Jerry attended classes at the University of Minnesota and obtained his C.P.A. degree in 1977. The past several years, he was self-employed as a tax accountant.

Jerry’s musical training started at age four in Idaho with violin lessons. He would sing and play his violin with his brother Jim, in church services, school programs, county fairs and contests, winning a few awards.  Jerry’s love for music involved him with solo work as a tenor soloist and violinist, performing for different church services and community performances. Lois frequently accompanied Jerry for vocal and violin solos starting at the church they attended in Northfield. He was lead violinist with his family Chamber Group (four violins and piano). His children looked up to his playing ability. His other interests included the outdoors, camping and canoeing with his family, especially at the B.W.C.A. trip, which they did annually.

He was a member of Mount Olivet Assembly of God Church in Apple Valley since 1968 where he served on the church board for thirteen years. He also enjoyed performing in voice and violin with his family there.

On Monday, August 28, 1989, Jerry died at Riverside Medical Center in Minneapolis from complications as a result of acute pancreatitis.

He is survived by his wife Lois, his son, Geoffrey Gerald Puckett and daughter Jolena Puckett, all of Apple Valley, his daughter and son in law, Paula and Thomas Wengert of Ames, Iowa; his parents, Neil and Hollos of Sioux City, Iowa; his brother James Puckett of Gunzburg, West Germany and his granddaughter, Alicia Paula Wengert of Ames, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Willard and Florence Munson and Ira and Elsie Puckett.