Julian Aurie (Jay) Gehrke, 69, of Mesa, Ariz., died of Lung Cancer July 28, 2011.

He was born Sept. 16, 1941.

He is preceded in death by Kay, his wife of 29 years in 1992; parents, Ethel and Aurie Gehrke and brother, Oliver Sinclair.

He is survived by his wife, Jeanine; children, Margaret (Mike) Zimmer of Woodbury, Katy (Todd) Anderson of Andover, and Jason (Kristy) Gehrke of Isanti; stepchildren, Terri Vasquez of Oakdale, Tammy (Dean) Swenson of Inver Grove Heights, and Todd Chinander; grandchildren, David Terrell, Rhiannon Keith, Megan and Alec Wood, Chase and Hailey Anderson, Joey, Lilly and Anna Gehrke, Tricia (Jerry) Harder, Nicole (Nick) Schwalbe, Jessica Zimmer, Corey, Heather and Sean Vasquez, Riley and Olivia Swenson; great-grandchildren, Hayden Nelson, Madison Keith, Blake and Brent Harder, Gemma Terrell-Marchini, Alexis and Xavier; 40 foster children; sister, Diane (Allan) Miller; nieces; nephews and cousins.

Jay graduated from Milroy High School in 1959. He joined the US Navy before graduation and served in the Navy, Naval Reserves, and National Guard until his retirement from service in 1994. Jay and Kay were married in 1963. Jay and Kay raised their children in St. Paul, Maplewood and Lyle, Minn. Jay met Jeanine in 1993, and they were married in 2001. Jay was a drycleaner by profession for many years. He retired with Jeanine to Mesa in 2004.

Burial will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9. Enter through gate 2, meet in assembly area 4 at 1:45 p.m. Jay’s family will greet friends with lunch and hospitality from 3 to 7 p.m. at 8861 Sequoia Court, Woodbury.