Gerald Greenwood Beardsley, 72, of Kenyon, died Thursday, November 24, 2022 at District One Hospital in Faribault.
He was born November 9, 1950 in Bridgeport, Connecticut the son of Roger and Esther (Currish) Beardsley. He grew up in Monroe, Connecticut and graduated from Masuk High School in 1968. He joined the United States Navy in February 1969, served active duty until March 1973, and reserve duty until his honorable discharge in February 1975.
Gerald was united in marriage to Catherine Wagner in St. Paul in 1978. The couple lived outside of Kenyon for several years before moving into town where they currently resided.
Gerald worked as a Chief Boiler Operator at Malt-O-Meal Cereal until his retirement.
He enjoyed riding motorcycle, road trips. smoking meat, running marathons (48), growing grapes to make wine, making homemade beer, welding and scrap metal work. He ran in Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth and built a smoker out of an old oil drum. He was most proud of raising his 4 children. If you knew Gerald, you more than likely had a nickname gladly supplied by him. He was always the guy to show up to help, support, hang out, or whatever was needed.
He is survived by his wife, Catherine Beardsley; mother, Esther Beardsley; children, Caleb Beardsley (Jen), Destiny Beardsley (Jeff), Karey Beardsley and Adam Beardsley (Katie); grandchildren, Alexis, Mason, Luke, Lexi, Ava, Daerion, Caleb, Jourdan, Brooke, Journey, Carsen, Mariah, Talan, and Phoenix; great-grandchildren, Clifford, Birdie-jo, Eleanor, and Leonard and three sisters, Rose Beardsley Kukla, Laurie Sperry and Marsha Beardsley.
He was preceded in death by his father, Roger Beardsley and his mother-in-law, Janice Wagner.
A Memorial Visitation will be at Michaelson Funeral Home in Kenyon on Saturday, December 3, 2022 from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM with a time of sharing at 2:30 PM. A reception will follow at the Kenyon V.F.W. Burial will be private at a later date.
