Jerome Nels Reckdahl, 89, died at his home at Riley Crossing Senior Living in Chanhassen on November 2 after a full life that included 16 years as mayor of Grove City and a half-century of teaching math. Services will be held at 11 a.m. with visitation at 9:30 a.m. and lunch afterward, on Saturday, November 23 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 54384 E. Highway 12, Grove City. For details, visit www.johnsonhagglund.com. Jerry was born near Gaylord to Nels and Agnes (nee Schlueter) Reckdahl on December 22, 1934. In 1952, he graduated from Gaylord High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Minnesota and a master’s in math education from St. Cloud State College. While at U of M, he met Joan Schramm; they married in 1958. In 1961, Jerry and Joan were hired by Grove City High School. She taught English, then special ed, while he taught math, coached the track team, and taught generations as an unflappable driver’s ed instructor.

He brought the first computer to Grove City schools in the 1970s. In the 1990s, he taught math at Ridgewater College in Hutchinson. To the couple’s five children Beth, twins Keith and Katy, Ben, and Andrea, Jerry will be remembered for his kindness, calm consistency, easy smile, twinkling blue eyes, and ability to recite Pi to 100 places. An active and involved grandfather, he was a natural namesake for his only great-grandchild, James Jerome. He and Joan relocated to Hutchinson in 2016. In 2022, they moved into Riley Crossing in Chanhassen where he took a bad fall in June, followed by a massive stroke. For his care over these past five months, Jerry’s family is grateful to Fairview Southdale ICU, Bethesda Hospital’s LTAC, St. Croix Hospice, and dedicated caregiver Mike Newell. Preceding him in death are his wife of 65 years, Joan (Schramm) Reckdahl, in 2023; sister Annabelle Marron, in 2018; and oldest daughter, Beth Ellenby, in 2008.

Survivors are many – siblings Segwald Reckdahl (Marti) of Fridley, Waldo Reckdahl of Gaylord, and Mary Ann Hartenberger of Portland, Ore.; special friend Pat Magnuson; four children, Keith Reckdahl (Becky Epstein) of Palo Alto, Calif.; Katy Reckdahl of New Orleans; Ben Bryant Reckdahl (Lonnie Davis) of Atlanta; Andrea Sweeney of Chanhassen, son-in-law Michael Ellenby; and many nieces and nephews; his eight grandchildren, Alex, Owen (Jinda), Lily (Jack), and Elijah Sweeney; Jayde Ellenby; Elise and Eric Epstein, Hector Campbell, and great-grandson, James Jerome Sweeney.