Gerald E. Mammen
February 3, 1927 - March 21, 2017

Funeral services for will be 10:30 a.m., Friday at the United Methodist Church in Graettinger. Burial is in Valley View Cemetery, Graettinger. The family will greet friends from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Thursday at the Joyce-Alesch Funeral Home in Graettinger.

Gerald Eugene Mammen, son of James Elmer and Idella Maud (Hatch) Mammen was born February 3, 1927 in Curlew, IA. He attended country school near Depew, IA. Following his education, Jerry worked before joining the United States Army serving during the Korean Conflict.

On January 19, 1954, Gerald was united in marriage to Leona Margaret Helmich in Jackson, MN. To this union, 10 children were born. Gerald worked as a mechanic, and he spent most of his trade working on tractors and motorcycle. For a number of years, he owned and operated the first Harley Davidson Dealership in Palo Alto County.

Jerry enjoyed hunting, fishing and playing the steel guitar. He spent many hours building custom motorcycles, model airplanes, doll houses and birdhouses. Whatever his children were into, Jerry was into. He enjoyed the family bond that was created while working together with his children. His interests were vast - from developing pictures in his dark room to flying airplanes, Jerry was never one to sit around. When he would get a call to help a farmer with their tractor, he dropped everything to help them get back running again.

On Tuesday, March 21, 2017, Jerry passed away at North Iowa Medical Center in Mason City, IA.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife: Leona of Emmetsburg; five sons: Dan (Cindy) of Davenport, Randy of Emmetsburg, Mike (Kim) of Graettinger, Chuck (Kim) of Emmetsburg and John (Mary) of Mallard; three daughters: Diane Steinberg (Galyn) of Forest City, Janet Johnson (Nick) of Orange City and Cheryl Mendez (Chris) of New Brighton, MN; daughter-in-law, Liz Mammen (the late Marlin Mammen) of Emmetsburg; 32 grandchildren; 55 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and his brothe-in-law, Don Crawmer of Graettinger.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Laurie Ann Mammen (1960); his son, Marlin "Marty" Mammen (2014); two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and his sister, Verna Crawmer.

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