Jerry Roper, 60

Funeral Mass for Jerry W. Roper will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, at St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church in Lake City, Minn., with Father Richard J. Dernek officiating. A orivate burial will be at a later date.

Mr. Roper, 60, of Lake City, Minn., died Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009, from injuries received in an auto accident near Beach, N.D., while heading to Glacier National Park in Montana.

Jerry Wayne Roper was born Nov. 6, 1948, in Lake City to Lester and Marion (Hygnstrom) Roper. He attended school in Lake City and graduated in 1966 from Lincoln High School.

He served in the U.S. Navy. On Oct. 21, 1972, he married Celeste Gerwitz at St. Lawrence The Martyr Catholic Church in Santa Clara, Calif. They lived in California for about 20 years and then returned to Lake City in June of 1990. Jerry was a machinist for many years at Federal Mogul in Lake City. He was and EMT at Treasure Island Casino and was the Director of Emergency Medical Services at Treasure Island Casino, and also served on the Lake City Ambulance Service. Jerry was a member of St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church in Lake City, a member of the Knights of Columbus and also a member of the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, and a Past Grand Knight. He was a Pumkinologist, loved Civil War History, traveling, camping, and spending time with his family especially his granddaughters.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Celeste Roper of Lake City; one daughter, Rebecca (Bill) Weist of Lake City; one son, David Roper of Minneapolis, Minn.; two granddaughters Lucy and Ella Weist; his mother, Marion (Eldon) Miller of Lake City; and one sister, Sandra (Robert) Walker of Broken Arrow, Okla. He was preceded in death by his father.

Friends and relatives may visit from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31, at Schleicher Funeral Homes, Lake City Chapel, and one hour prior to the service Tuesday at the church. A prayer service will be at 3:45 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Schleicher Funeral Homes, Lake City Chapel, 1865 S Hwy 61, Lake City, MN, 651-345-5778. www.schleicherfuneralhomes.com

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