Jerome "Jerry" Flottemesch

DETROIT LAKES - It is in loving memory that we announce the passing of Jerome “Jerry” Flottemesch, 76, on July 13, 2020, at Essentia Health-Oak Crossing in Detroit Lakes, Minn., after a brief, yet strong, fight with pancreatic cancer. Jerome was born August 13, 1943, in Detroit Lakes, the eldest son of Herman and Marie (Kunz) Flottemesch.

A lifelong resident of Callaway, Minn., Jerome graduated from Detroit Lakes High School in 1961. Following graduation, Jerome joined his father and Uncle Joe on the Flottemesch Farm. In 1965, he joined the U.S. Army and served in Korea. After his honorable discharge, he returned home to become the third generation to assume leadership of the Flottemesch Farm in partnership with his brother Richard, which was honored with the Century Farm Award in 2011. In 1969, he married Avis Bertram. They celebrated 50 years of marriage in September 2019. Jerome will be fondly remembered as a man dedicated to his family, farm, faith, and community. Amongst his many civic engagements included involvement in: Assumption Catholic Church, Becker County Soil & Water Conservation, Buffalo-Red River Watershed District, Callaway Lions (Founding Member), Detroit Lakes School Board, and the Knights of Columbus.

Jerome will be most fondly remembered by his surviving relatives, including his wife, Avis (Bertram) Flottemesch; his 5 children and 11 grandchildren: Pamela (Brent) with children Matthew and Peter of Savage, Minn.; Thomas (Kim) with children Kamela and Dylan of Lakeville, Minn.; Jennifer (Chris) with children Mikayla, Kellen, and Reese of Dallas, Texas; Abby (Cortney) with children Herman and Roland of Montréal, Québec, Canada; and Angela (Adam) with children Oscar and Arlo of Washington, D.C; two brothers, Richard of Callaway; and Leon (Dorothy) of Hudson, Wis.; and two sisters, Patricia (Jack) of Hudson, Wis.; and Margaret (Gerald) of Flom, Minn.; and many loved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family would like to send their heartfelt appreciation to the staff of Hospice of the Red River Valley and Essentia Health-Oak Crossing for their tender-loving care of Jerome.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in memory of Jerome on Saturday, July 18, at Assumption Catholic Church in Callaway, with Fr. David Baumgartner presiding. Interment will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Callaway. Due to current gathering guidelines, the service is private. Those who wish to remember Jerome in a special way may make gifts in his memory to support a stained glass window that will be installed at Assumption Catholic Church in his memory. Gifts can be sent to: Assumption Catholic Church, Attn: Jerome Flottemesch Memorial,  PO Box 67 Callaway, MN 56521.