Gerald Alan Walls

Gerald “Jerry” Alan Walls, age 68 of Duluth died in December 2022 after a battle with kidney cancer. He was born in Three Rivers, MI in 1954 to parents John & Marilyn (nee; Poe) Walls. He married his college sweetheart Deana Sherman in 1981. Jerry is preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law Tim Spehar. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Deana; children, Jack (Jamie Stepniak), Kathleen & Carrie; siblings, Gail (Milt) Concannon, Deb Spehar, John (Mary Beth) Walls, and Scott (Robbi) Walls; In-laws, Deb Sherman, Gail (Roger) Yanska, Greg (Jeanette) Sherman, Matt (Patty) Sherman, Kim (Vince) Currier, Bryon (Vi) Sherman, Ellen (Tim) Wrede; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews & friends. Jerry served in the Army from 1973 to 1976. He was assigned to the 118th Assault Helicopter Company of the 25th Infantry Division stationed in Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, where he served as a helicopter mechanic and crew chief. Following his time in the Army he attended the Great Lakes Maritime Academy where he graduated in 1980 and met his future wife, Deana. Jerry started working at US Steel’s Great Lakes Fleet in 1987 and retired from there in 2020 as the Fleet Manager of Safety and Environment. Jerry was known for being a steady presence in his community. He was a deacon and an  ordained Elder at Lakeside Presbyterian Church, where he was a member for over 30 years. In that time he also taught Sunday school, helped out with the Youth Group, and played in the Bell Choir. When it came to making decisions, he took his responsibilities very seriously but he was also known for occasionally making minor mischief in the name of comic relief. Jerry loved the outdoors and one of his greatest joys was sharing that love with his family and friends. He took his family camping, canoeing, and hiking all over the United States, but his greatest love was sailing. In 2016 Jerry and Deana bought a 36-foot Catalina sailboat that was Jerry’s pride and joy. They named it the MarJon II and anchored it in Ashland, WI. Jerry loved to take family, friends, friends of family, and just about anyone on excursions all around the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Another passion of Jerry’s was music. Jerry went to great lengths to make sure the entire family could enjoy music around his campfires, including but not limited to: teaching himself to play the harmonica, teaching himself to play the accordion he inherited from his grandfather, and spending 4 years of evenings and weekends building a campfire fiddle. But he really came into his own when he acquired a set of musical spoons - for which he had a natural talent. When his daughter pulled out her fiddle, and he pulled out his spoons - watch out! There was little Jerry loved more than to spend time around a campfire sharing music, food, and laughter with his family and friends. Jerry was an incredible and much loved husband, father, brother, and friend to many. He brought adventure, wonder, music, mischief, and laughter to the lives of the many people blessed to be a part of his life. Jerry’s life was an example of loving deeply and living fully. He

will be sorely missed.