Gerald “Gerry” Schlueter

Gerry was born February 27, 1948 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota to George and Luella Groepel Schlueter. He grew up in Hills, MN where he attended school at Hills – Beaver Creek. After graduating from high school in 1966, he attended Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska, graduating in 1970 with a bachelor of arts in education. Gerry married Susan Warntjes on November 29, 1969 in Greenville, IA. In Gerry's early working years, he was a YMCA director in St. Cloud, MN and Mason City, IA. Gerry and Sue moved to Lake Park, MN, in 1975 when they purchased the Lake Park Journal. Gerry served as newspaper editor and publisher of the Lake Park Journal until 1991. In addition to running the Lake Park Journal, Gerry was also involved in commercial printing. Around 1980, Gerry formed a book binding business which he owned and operated until his death. Book binding operations took place in Lake Park as G and S Binding, and as Superior Binding in Fargo, ND. Most recently, Gerry enjoyed driving school bus for Lake Park – Audubon Schools. Gerry was a very passionate and dynamic person who knew how to have fun when the time was appropriate. He set many personal goals, such as backpacking the Lake Superior Hiking Trail and to camp with their Scamp camping trailer in every state park throughout Minnesota. Gerry was a very active and involved member of his community and was a friend to everyone, lending a hand whenever needed. He enjoyed many hobbies and interests, including swimming, collecting model trains, camping, backpacking, canoeing and being a ham radio operator. Gerry was also an avid Civil War and World War II historian. Gerry was a talented musician who loved to play the mandolin and sing as a member of the Great Plains Harmony Barber Shop Chorus as well as the Detroit Lakes Skippers Barber Shop Chorus. Most importantly, Gerry loved being a father and grandfather. His children and grandchildren were the apple of his eye. Gerry will be dearly missed by those who knew him. Left to cherish his memory are his wife of forty-two years, Sue Schlueter of Lake Park, MN; mother, Luella Schlueter of Hills, MN; son, Kris Kelly Schlueter of Maplewood, MN; daughters, Kelli Ryan Lakeman of Plymouth, MN, and Kari Matt Zizzo of Livermore, CA; four grandchildren, Shawn Lakeman, Mason Schlueter, Lauren Lakeman and Allison Zizzo; brother, Wayne Barb Schlueter; sisters, Bonnie Brian Olson, and Laurie John Hynes; nieces and nephews, Travis and Kristin Sullivan, Patrick Sullivan, Mark Sullivan, Gregory Hynes and Ellen Hynes; sister-in-law and brothers-in-law, Tim and Nancy Sullivan and Robert Warntjes. He was preceded in death by his father, George. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Lake Park Lutheran Church, Kipanga Water Fund.