Gerald Jandro

Gerald J. Jandro, age 76, of Faribault, died Sunday, February 1, 2009 at the Homestead Hospice in Owatonna.             Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, February 6, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. at the Divine Mercy Catholic Church, at Sacred Heart in Faribault with the Rev. Kevin Finnegan, pastor officiating. Interment will be held at the Calvary Cemetery, Faribault with military honors provided by the Rice County Central Veterans Association.             Visitation will be held at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home in Faribault on Thursday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. and at the church on Friday for one hour prior to services.             The family prefers that memorials be directed to the Homestead Hospice of Owatonna.             Gerald John Jandro, the son of Raymond and Catherine (Lonien) Jandro, was born on March 24, 1932 at his family farm in Walcott Township, Rice County, MN. As a young man in 1947 Jerry started working at the Vinery combining peas and later became a foreman for the Faribault Canning Co. During that time he also farmed with his father. In January of 1951 Jerry was called to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War and served until June of 1952. After his service time Jerry returned to work at the Faribault Canning Co. and continued farming. On January 15, 1955 he was united in marriage to Mavis Hunt in Mason City, IA.  Jerry also worked construction for different contractors in the area including Jack Roth Construction, working on road construction in Owatonna, Alley Construction in Faribault from 1953-1957, Warren Shevlin Excavating in Faribault from 1957-1961 and in 1961 Jerry started his own business, Gerald Jandro Excavating. He operated his business until 1994 when he sold it to Dale "Skip" Schwartz and continued working for him until 1999 when he had a heart attack and had to stop working. In retirement Jerry worked for his son in law, Mark Chamberlain, mowing grass at Meadow Ridge Memorial Park.             He is survived by six children, Thomas (Mary) Hunt of Faribault, Linda (Mark) Chamberlain of Faribault, Catherine (Bob) Beus of Aurora, CO, Jane Jandro of St. Paul, MN, Pete Jandro of Faribault and Suzanne (Jeff) Johnson of Faribault; by seven grandchildren, Angela Vargo, Christina Vargo, Ashlie Adolphson, Samantha Schmidt, Bobbi Schmidt, Shane Hand and Tassja Chamberlain; by one great grandson, Evan Bennett; by two brothers, Gordon Jandro and Dave (Maxine) Jandro, both of Faribault; by five sisters, Mary Ann Burke of Faribault, Eileen O'Connor of Brownsdale, MN, Marjorie (Wally) Matthies of Faribault, Leila Parkos of Faribault and Nancy Landherr of Brownsdale, MN and by many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.             He was preceded in death by his parents and by an infant son, Gerald Jandro Jr.