Jerry Munch

Jerry Munch, 88 years

old, former longtime

Kenmare/Donnybrook

area resident, passed into

God’s loving arms at Trin-

ity Hospital, Minot, North

Dakota on October 22,

2020 with family by his

side.

Jerome Allen Munch

was born January 25, 1932

to Loretta (Maus) and

Phillip Munch at Kenmare

Hospital, Kenmare, ND.

He grew up on the family

farm and attended school

in Kenmare. He competed

in and won top prize in a

national FFA cattle judg-

ing event in Des Moines,

IA. After school he en-

tered the U.S. Army and

served as a signalman in

the Signal Corps in

Salzburg, Austria. He was

certified as an expert

marksman and was

named a member of the

Army Competitive Rifle

Team – an elite group that

competed with other

branches of the military.

Jerry met his true love

Maureen Steinberger at a

dance at St. Agnes Cathol-

ic School. They were mar-

ried in 1956 after Jerry re-

turned from the service.

Their first home was in

Minot, where Jerry en-

rolled at Minot State

University and worked for

the railroad. Jerry and

Maureen later moved to

Riverdale, where Jerry

worked as a master weld-

er and boilermaker at the

Garrison Dam power

plant. They made their

home at different loca-

tions throughout North

Dakota, South Dakota,

Minnesota, Montana, and

Colorado before returning

to Minot in 1964. Jerry

then took over farming

the Steinberger family

farm near Donnybrook,

ND. The family began to

spend winters in Kenmare

in 1976.

Jerry was really a

self-taught engineer, using

his skills to design and

build many things includ-ing highway licensed

grain trailers. He had a

gift for repairing equip-

ment and could fix most

any mechanical issue. In

2010 when the BP oil spill

occurred in the Gulf of

Mexico, using parts that

he purchased at a

hardware store, Jerry

designed a model of a col-

lection system to remedy

the issue. He called ND

Senator Dorgan’s office

suggesting they use his

design and received

several phone calls back.

Jerry enjoyed coaching

baseball and basketball, as

well as umpiring. He

loved to golf, hunt, fish,

shoot pool, throw darts,

and was a state bowling

champ. He also enjoyed

the computer, western

movies, playing cards,

and doing puzzles. He

loved to compete and was

always up for a game of

any kind. He enjoyed an

annual golf trip for many

years to Colorado with his

sons, brothers in law, and

other family and friends.

He loved his family, espe-

cially the grandkids. Jerry

enjoyed watching their

school activities and

sporting events and just

hanging out with them.

Jerry loved to tell stories,

play jokes, and had a con-

tagious giggle that was

loved by all!

Jerry was a 50-year

veteran of the American

Legion Clarence McCor-

mick Post 0195 in Don-

nybrook, and he was

honored on Memorial Day

of 2018. He served as a re-

ligion teacher at St. Agnes

Catholic Church, was

Kenmare Senior Citizen

Center treasurer, a

member of the Knights of

Columbus, and was also a

school board member.

Jerry and Maureen

moved to Somerset Court

assisted living in Minot in

2018. He liked to partici-

pate in the activities and

games – especially the

pool tournaments. He also

enjoyed hanging out in

the coffee and sweets

room and visiting with

everyone. The family is

grateful for the loving care

and compassion that was

shared with Jerry.

Jerry is survived by his

loving wife of 63 years

Maureen, sons Paul

(Karen) Munch, Dennis

(Maureen) Munch, Dave

(Julie) Munch, daughter

Aimee (Dan) Wheeling,

grandsons Colin Munch

and Grayson Munch,

granddaughters Kiley

(Ben) Lynch, Alyson

(Adam) Feigum, Sydney

Wheeling, Courtney

Munch, Jordan Wheeling,

and Julianna Munch. A

great grandson, Charlie

Allen Feigum, was born in

August. He is also sur-

vived by brother James

(Patricia) Munch and sis-

ter Luella Ray, and

numerous nieces and

nephews who were spe-

cial to him as well.

He was preceded in

death by his parents, in-

fant daughters Laurie

Michelle and Mary Jo,

brothers Joe and Jack, and

sisters Lavera and

LaVonne.

Jerry’s giggle, his kind-

ness, generosity, faith,

and love for family and

life will be truly missed.

A Funeral Mass and

Celebration of Jerry’s Life

will take place in the fu-

ture.

Interment will be at St.

Agnes Cemetery in Ken-

mare.

Memories and con-

dolences may be shared at

www.thomasfamily

funeralhome.com.

Thomas Family funeral

Home – Minot has been

entrusted with the ar-

rangements.