Gerald "Jerry" Allyn Strelow

Gerald Allyn Strelow (Jerry), age 92 passed away surrounded by his family on November 8, 2025 in Cottage Grove, Minnesota after a long battle with Lewy Body Dementia. Born October 16, 1933 in Winona, Minnesota to Erwin and Anna (Lafky) Strelow. He spent time as a child in Onamia, St Paul and Winona, Minnesota, graduating from Winona High School.

After graduating he enlisted in the Army where he was stationed in Berlin, Germany during the reconstruction after WWII. His duties included being a part-time guard at Spandau Prison for Nazi war criminals. He was a proud Veteran.

After his discharge from the Army, Jerry married Elaine Wadewitz and moved to St Paul, Minnesota and eventually to Cottage Grove, Minnesota. He worked at the St Paul main Post Office for 35 years before retiring. After retiring he worked several odd jobs to keep busy, finally working for a veterinarian as a handyman, orchard keeper, and driver. Jerry enjoyed being a long time volunteer at the Science Museum of Minnesota.

He loved feeding the birds, bird watching, reading books, magazines and the newspaper, and canoeing the Canon River and the backwaters of the Mississippi River.

Preceded in death by his parents, brothers James (Jim) Lafky, Erwin (Stub) Strelow Jr, Robert (Bob) Strelow, Richard (Dick) Strelow and sister Shirley VanGrinsven.

Jerry is survived by wife Elaine of 68 years, son Bryan (Janice) Strelow, daughter Carole Strelow and grandson Evan Murawski, as well as sisters-in-law, brother-in law, and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers a donation in his name may be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA). lbda.org/donate/

A celebration of life to be held at a later date next summer.