Gerald Searles

Gerald Searles was born January 27, 1934, in Rochester, MN to Harold & Hannah (Feil) Searles, Sr. Gerald died at the age of 92 on November 5th at The Homestead of Rochester.

A memorial service for Gerald "Jerry" Searles, of Plainview, will be at 11:00 am, Wednesday, November 18, 2026 at St. Joachim's Catholic Church in Plainview. Visitation will be from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Tuesday, November 17, 2026 at the Schad and Zabel Funeral Home in Plainview, and also one hour prior to the funeral service at the church. Burial will be at St. Joachim's Catholic Cemetery in Plainview.

Jerry graduated from Byron High School in 1951. After graduation he served in the US Army, with overseas duty in France. He lived his entire lifetime in the Byron/Plainview/Rochester area, and worked at IBM in Rochester from 1957 until 1991. He married the love of his life, Donna Krusmark, on November 24, 1962. Their union was blessed with the birth of their daughter Debra in 1963. They were happily married for 39 wonderful years, until Donna's passing in 2001.

Jerry was a faithful member of St. Joachim's Catholic Church, as well as a proud member of the Plainview American Legion Post 149, IBM Quarter-Century Club, IBM Retirees' Club, and Greenwood Prairie Classic Iron Club. He also served on the American Legion Color Guard for many years.

Jerry enjoyed antique tractors (especially the green ones), woodworking, reading, hunting, walking in the outdoors, watching the Minnesota Twins and Vikings, and especially fishing with his grandson and good friends. His greatest joy was spending time with his family. He will be fondly remembered as a kind, generous, faith-filled man who deeply loved fellowship, family, the outdoors, and good conversation. He will be especially remembered by his family as a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather who was brave enough to take on the job of raising a ready-made brood of three stepchildren and loving them as his own.

Jerry is survived by his daughter Debra (Dan) Ohm of Stewartville, MN; step-daughter Cathy Irwin of Mooresville, NC; step-son Jack (Kris) Harlan of Buffalo, MN; daughter-in-law Ok-Hee McGrath of West Lafayette, Indiana; special friend Joanne Nord of Rochester, MN; eight grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Donna; his parents; a brother, Harold Searles, Jr; a sister, Delores Holland; a step-son, Richard McGrath; and a son-in-law, Joe Irwin.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to Seasons Hospice of Rochester, MN; Green Prairie Classic Iron Club; or American Cancer Society.