Gerald Dean Mason, Sr. was born on June 24, 1940, to William and Helen (Kunst) Mason in Kasota, Minn. He grew up in Eagle Lake, Minn., working at his family’s auto shop. He was united in marriage to Joyce Lucille Gaines of Wells, Minn. on Dec. 23, 1958, in Wells. They had six children together. He was employed at Wilson’s Meat Packing Plant in Albert Lea, Minn. from 1962 to 1976. Jerry was self-employed from 1976 to 2001 in the used car sales business. He then retired and spent his winters in Florence, Ariz.
He is survived by his wife Joyce Mason, his six children: Laurie (Scott) Baer, Gerald , Jr. (LuAnn) Mason, Julie (Matthew) Platte, Peggy (Michael) Witt, Jeff (Sondra) Mason, Brian (Stacy) Mason; 15 grandchildren,  Brittany, Jenna and Emma Baer, Nicole and Jeremy Mason, Dustin, Cody, Elizabeth and Jacob Platte, Nathan, Emily and Katie Witt, Tyler and Riley Mason, Alice Lucille Mason; one great-grandchild, Averie Kirby.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Helen and William Mason; his mother and father-in-law, Ada and Alvin Gaines; sisters, Ruth Ann Mason, Shirly Baynes; sister-in-law, Mary Mason; brother-in-law, Lloyd Gaines; granddaughter Danielle Grace Baer; grandson Drew Scott Baer; great-granddaughter, Claire Marie Kirby; nephew, William Halstead; nieces, Kimberly Mason, Elizabeth Churchill.
Funeral services for Gerald Dean Mason Sr. will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009 at the Oakland Lutheran Church. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009 at the Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday.
 To sign the guestbook, go to www.bayviewfuneral.com.