Jerry Marr Kilbourn, age 97, of Rutledge, Minnesota, died on June 12, 2024, at Sandstone, Minnesota. He was born September 4, 1926 in Mason City, Iowa. He attended elementary and junior high school there, and later moved to Rolfe, Iowa, where he attended high school. After high school, he was drafted into the US Army-Airforce where he served until March, 1947. He then attended the University of Iowa in Iowa City Iowa, where he majored in business and was on the fencing team.  After working various jobs, he began working at Greif Bros. Cooperage in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, where he remained for 37 years, retiring in 1988. After being retired for 9 years, but working various part time jobs, Jerry decided he'd had enough of Minnesota winters. In 1997 he began the winter migration to Casa Grande, Arizona, which he started by driving a pickup, then a RV, a mini-van, and finally flying from 2016 until 2021, when health problems forced him to end his traveling.

Jerry was married on May 28, 1965 to LeAnn Lage, living in Minneapolis, then Blaine, Andover, and Knife Lake at Mora, Minnesota. They had three daughters, Laurie, Cindy, and Julie.

After his retirement, Jerry enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, gardening, garage sales, and taking his grandchildren to the sandpit to look for agates. While in Arizona he played softball for a senior team as catcher, and for a while had an old jeep that he loved to drive in the mountains.

Jerry is survived by his wife, LeAnn; three daughters, Laurie Audette of Sandstone, Cindy Kilbourn of Coon Rapids, Julie Pyles of Anoka; and three granddaughters, Madeline Pyles, Abigail Pyles, and Michelle Audette.

He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers and sisters, and grandson, Allen Chetwynd Audette.

In lieu of flowers the family has asked for people to make donations in memory of Jerry to:

Allen's Hope at 318 Court Ave N., Sandstone, MN 55072 or to Alzheimer's Association at 12701 Whitewater Drive, Suite 290
Minnetonka, MN 55343

A funeral service will be held on June 22, 2024 at Methven Funeral Home, 114 5th Street, Sandstone, MN at  3 pm. Visitation will be from 2 pm. until time of service. Military honors will be held outside the funeral home following the service. Burial will be held at a later date at Bethlehem Cemetery, Askov, Minnesota. A luncheon will be served following the service at Sandstone Golf Club.

Arrangements by Methven Funeral and Cremation Services of Sandstone, MN.