The funeral service for Gerald “Jerry” H. Rollinger will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Theodore Catholic Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. Timothy T. Reker and Deacon Mike Ellis will officiate. Interment will be in St. Theodore Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at church. Military honors accorded by Albert Lea veterans organizations.

Gerald Rollinger passed away Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, at St. John’s Lutheran Home in Albert Lea. He was 84 years old.

Jerry was born on June 5, 1928, in Faribault. The son of Michael and Anna (Zensen) Rollinger, he attended St. Lawrence Grade School and graduated from Faribault High School in 1946 where he lettered in tennis and football. He was back-up quarterback for the Faribault Falcon’s championship football team in the 1945 Big Nine Conference, ending with a perfect 8-0 record. From 1946-1947 he served in the United States Marines, where he was stationed at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station in Santa Ana, Calif. Upon returning to Minnesota, he graduated from Mankato State Teaching College in 1952 where he majored in chemistry and biology and minored in mathematics. Jerry moved to Albert Lea in 1953 and on Nov. 27, 1954, he married Karen VanZant at St. Theodore Catholic Church. Together they raised four children.

Jerry began his career teaching junior high school science in Redwood Falls, in 1952. In 1953 he began working as a chemist at Wilson & Co. where he spent 37 years, retiring in 1990. He was a member of St. Theodore Catholic Church, and faith played a large role in his life.

Jerry enjoyed rock hunting, making jewelry, watching college football, listening to music and photography. He was very committed to his family and was always very proud of his children graduating from the University of Minnesota.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Michael and Anna; brother, Robert Rollinger; sister, Marilyn Hayes; and nephews, Jerald, Tom, and Glen.

Jerry is survived by his loving wife, Karen Rollinger of Albert Lea; children, James Rollinger of Albert Lea, Jay (Susan) Rollinger of Roseville, Jon Rollinger of Savage, and Joan (Frank) Gilbertson of Maplewood; grandchildren, Heidi and Anna Rollinger and Carl and Mary Gilbertson; sisters, Doris (Don) Brown of Dallas, Texas, and Trisha (Virgil) Sunday of Mesquite, Texas; sister-in-law, Elena Rollinger of Dallas, Texas; nieces and nephews; and other loving relatives and friends.

Jerry will be greatly missed by his wife, children and all those who knew him. Blessed be his memory.