Funeral services for Gerald D. Edwards of Holllandale will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 30, 2014 at Hollandale Reformed Church in Hollandale. Pastor Neal Ooms will officiate. Interment will be in the Hollandale Cemetery in Hollandale. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home in Albert Lea.
Gerald died on Sunday, April 27, 2014 at his home in Hollandale. He was 60 years old. He was born on December 27, 1953 in Albert Lea, the son of Albert and Alice (Ravenhorst) Edwards. He was baptized at the Hollandale Reformed Church and was a lifetime member there. He graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1972 and from Austin Technical School in 1974 with a tool and die degree.
He married Becky Vanden Heuvel on Sept. 14, 1974 at Community Lutheran Church in Geneva, MN. Together they worked at 3M in New Ulm, MN just after being married. In 1975 they moved back home to Hollandale where Gerald worked for Hollandale Marketing Assn. for two years. In 1978 he started farming with his brother, Robert, father, Al, and uncle, Ray Edwards. He farmed the rest of his life and was so looking forward to farming with his sons.Gerald and Becky raised their family in Hollandale, enjoying small town life with many nearby relatives and great family friends. Gerald enjoyed fishing and spending time at his cabin on Vermilion Lake with his children and grandchildren. He served on the Hollandale Fire Department, Hollandale City Council the Freeborn County Planning and Zoning Board and was a current member of Turtle Creek Watershed Board.
Gerald is survived by his wife, Becky; son, Mitch (Amy) of Rockford MN, daughter, Laura (Jamie) Baudoin of Rochester, MN, and son, Brad (Nicole) of Hollandale; grandchildren Carter and Max Edwards, Blake and Brooklyn Baudoin, Ryker and Harper Edwards; sisters Joyce (Clark II) Marshall, Joan (Mike) Thomas; brother-in-law, Steve (Kari) Vanden Heuvel; sisters-in-law, Julie (Dale) Horihan, Marcia (Ross) Vermedahl; mother and father-in-law, Elmer and Joan Vanden Heuvel; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and special Aunt, Corrine Edwards.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Robert.
A special thank you to Dr. J. Fernando Quevedo, Mindy Hartgers, NP, and our go-to-girl, Janet Lensing. Your encouragement and compassion was so appreciated.