Gerald Downey

Obituary of Gerald V. Downey

Gerald V. Downey “Jerry”, age 84, of Silver Bay, MN, was called home to be with OUR Lord on Sunday, May 16, 2021. Jerry died of natural causes surrounded by his family of loved ones at home. Jerry was born to Vern and Annabelle Downey of Saxon, WI; which is where he grew up and graduated from Saxon High School. While still in school, he worked on the Pipeline going through Saxon before going into the Army for two years.

He met the love of his life Karen Swanberg of Bessemer, MI and they married in 1957. They moved to a newly started town called Silver Bay, where he started working for Reserve Mining and later named Northshore Mining, retiring in 1999; having two sons and a daughter. He had many interests and hobbies, a few of them including…Jerry had a passion for a variety of sports which he also played especially fastpitch softball which he played for years. He also loved watching and cheering on the girls fastpitch team in town being a regular behind the fence and keeping the umpire honest. He loved riding his motorcycle with family and friends all over the United States putting on thousands of miles yearly even through his eighties. He loved the outdoors, whether it was hunting, fishing, four wheeling or playing some cards with his friends daily. Being always active and social, the dust never settled long on Jerry. But the biggest passion of all was his family and relatives being supportive and active in all his grandchildren’s activities; no matter what it was he loved them so much and also them loving him even more dearly. Jerry was a member of The St. Mary’s Catholic Church and various other groups and organizations through the years.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Karen; son, Timothy; parents, Vernon and Annabelle; sisters, Jeanne Novak and Marlene Betthauser.

He is survived by his son, Shayne; daughter, Colleen; brother, Michael (Lois) Downey; 10 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; along with other aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Silver Bay with visitation one hour prior. Burial will take place at Sawtooth Mountain Cemetery. Arrangements by the Cremation Society of Minnesota Duluth.

A Memorial Tree was planted for Gerald
We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at Cremation Society Of Minnesota | Duluth