Pastor Gerald ‘Jerry’ T. VanRavenhorst, 68

Published 10:18 am Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Pastor Gerald “Jerry” T. VanRavenhorst, 68, of Caledonia, Minnesota, passed away Wednesday, May 13, 2015, at his home.

He was born April 30, 1947, in Albert Lea, Minnesota, to Cornelius and Hilda (Gross) VanRavenhorst. Jerry was a 1965 graduate of Blooming Prairie High School, Blooming Prairie, Minnesota. On Oct. 19, 1968, he married Deborah Heiny in Brownsdale, Minnesota. Jerry had a very diverse history of occupations; from 1968 until 1993, he farmed the family farm and raised 2,000 pigs a year. In addition, Jerry owned and operated Imperial Painting and he was an elder, preacher, and worship leader for the Austin Christian Fellowship. From 1993 until 2002, Jerry, along with his wife, Deborah and their four younger boys, lived and served as missionaries in Albania and Kosovo. From 2002 until the present time, Pastor Jerry, also fondly known as “PaPa Horse” to many, pastored the Bread of Life Church in Caledonia. He also worked as a painter for Miken Sports in Caledonia and he was a paper-route carrier for the Winona Daily News and the La Crosse Tribune. Jerry’s hobbies were raising and racing his pigeons and he enjoyed all sports. He loved his big family and spending time with them. Sharing the love of the Lord with everyone was his passion. Jerry’s favorite scripture passages were Luke 10:27 and Colossians 1:27 and he would encourage everyone to read them.

Survivors include his wife Deborah; six children: Heather Ann Larson, Heidi VanRavenhorst-Bell and her husband, Derek, Daniel VanRavenhorst (Jadi Heaney), David VanRavenhorst (Christine Reed), Aaron VanRavenhorst, and Ezra VanRavenhorst; six grandsons; five granddaughters; five siblings: Donna (Steve) Hensel, Dennis VanRavenhorst, Gloria (Vern) Dennis, Marilyn (Scott) Gullickson, and Darryl (Lisa) VanRavenhorst; his mother-in-law, Patricia Ann Heiny; and a plentiful number of nieces and nephews.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; his step-father, Howard Lacher; and his father-in-law, James Heiny.

A celebration of Jerry’s life will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 23, 2015, at the Four Seasons Community Center, 900 N. Kingston St., Caledonia. A visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m., Friday, at Jandt-Fredrickson Funeral Home, 518 W. Main St., Caledonia. Online condolences may be sent at www.jandtfredrickson.com.