Gerald Dale Peter Herrod was born in Hudson Bay, the second of four children of Albert and Joyce. As best we can tell, Jerry was a character right from the get-go, roaming the farmland and the bush with his buddies and his .22 for at least 67 of his 71 years. He showed a very early aptitude for shooting and for making people laugh with his often “colourful” humour. Many favourite stories from his childhood included other local “characters” like Gerry, Robert, Adam, and Dennis. Gems such as the day the elementary teacher asked Jerry why his grades weren’t good like his friend Dennis’s grades, to which he replied “Dennis’s parents are smarter than mine!” Or the day he neutered a running dog from 200 yards back for the sin of chasing his cattle.
Jerry joined his father and his older brother Jack in the fields as soon as he was big enough to see over the steering column to drive, and he honestly just never really left, aside from the time they lived in Thompson. But even there, Jerry found many things to occupy his time – he did door to door milk delivery and newspapers, and he worked at the grocery store as a stock boy. Sadly he was fired from that job when he accidentally mentioned he couldn’t go flying with his air cadet squadron because you had to be 14 to fly (momentarily forgetting you also had to be 14 to hold a job, and someone may have lied a little upon hiring).
As was common at that time, Jerry dispensed with the annoyance of high school as early as possible, telling his teacher Mrs. Olvera that he could go work for the CN and make more money than her, and it was true. So off he went to that job, but he didn’t stay there too long because he was a farmer at heart, not a railroader.
Jerry being a good neighbour to Frank and Helen Krajci, one day offered to bring a care package to their daughter in Saskatoon, and Jerry and Doreen were married shortly thereafter. To them were born Tim in 1973 and Angie in 1975. Jerry was from the first moment a proud and doting daddy, an excellent provider and very creative in his ways of entertaining his kids. Countless hours were spent driving around the fields hunting for rabbits, or crashing into straw bales for the fun of it, or playing on log piles, or riding in the bucket of the tractor. He was young and poor but he was resourceful!
It was around that time that Jerry and Doreen divorced. Some time later Jerry got together with Shirley Rupchan, and they were together many years, farming and working and spending time with family.
In order to fund his farming habit, in the early years Jerry was also a logger. Later he worked for the DNR (now SERM) and retired from there as a Fire Tower Observer after decades of service. But throughout all of his adult life, Jerry was first and foremost a farmer – grain and his cherished purebred Shorthorn cattle. He was so gratified by the opportunity to show his cattle professionally, particularly a big, beautiful red that was named Dolly that was shown at Agribition and anywhere else he could fit her in. Everyone knew Jerry produced the best beef in all the land and people would have their orders placed a year in advance. He even did a stint with a milking Shorthorn named Enid and he peddled fresh milk all over town, too.
As is often the case, it wasn’t until Jerry became a grandpa that he REALLY hit his stride – sure he was working and farming and hunting and running about in his usual Tazmanian fashion, but he was still at the hospital to welcome every new baby, and he was at every dance recital and piano recital and football game and public speaking and graduation and convocation. You name it, he was there for it. Jerry loved the bragging rights, and he made damn sure he earned them by being right there to see it all!
In more recent years, Jerry got together with Shirley Herrod, who finally convinced him to buy a house in town and settle in there. It didn’t change much however, he just spent more money on gas to get back and forth to the farm a time or two each day. Jerry and Shirley spent all kinds of time up and down the highways to visit their various kids and grandkids, as well as their many and widespread close friends. They also loved attending community dances and music festivals, and trying their luck at the casinos. Jerry was a fixture at the John Arcand Fiddle Festival every year, and he was also known to frequent the AA “24 Meetings in 24 hours” at Christmas time in Saskatoon. He loved to provide wise mentorship to others in their AA journey, just as wise mentorship had been provided to him. But the top of the list for Jerry for favourite pastimes throughout his lifetime was the dancing. He danced with everyone everywhere and he expected everyone to be agreeable with that.
Speaking of close friends, there are truly too many to mention but you all know who you are. Some of you have been lifelong friends and some of you have joined up more recently; some of you “farm” together every morning at the Treeline, and others catch up at Homecoming every few years. Some of you are teenagers and some of you are 90 – but one thing about Jerry is that he never made an enemy in his entire life. It’s possible that this is because it wouldn’t have turned out too well for them if they had tried.
One of the things that everyone everywhere agrees on is that Jerry was “there for you”. No matter the topic, no matter the cost, no matter the frequency, no matter the distance. He was there for everyone, always. If you needed something, he was your guy. If you were one of his chosen people, you daily reaped the benefit of his advice, encouragement and support. It was always best to stay on the right list, of course.
Jerry was predeceased by his father Albert Herrod, his dear aunt and uncle Heather and Stan Shannon, cousin Harold Shannon, his nephew Jeffrey Tessier, his grandparents Guy and Reta May and Jack and Jennie Herrod, his uncles Lawrence (Gladys), Barney and Herb Herrod, and his cousins Don, Ian, Philip, Carol and Gail Herrod. He was also predeceased by his “other mother and father”, Helen and Frank Krajci.
Jerry is survived by his spouse Shirley Herrod; his mother Joyce Hrebeniuk; his son Tim (Sharla) Herrod and children Jasmine (Mark) Dozlaw, Kaeden Herrod, Asher Herrod, Gabrielle Herrod and Sophie Herrod; his daughter Angela Hosni and children Brad Loewen, Reda Hosni, and Samy Hosni; and his great granddaughter Nikova Loewen. He is also survived by his brother Jack (Janice) Herrod and sons Jordan (Christine) Herrod and their daughter Kate, and Joel Herrod and his children Jonathan, Mika, Samantha and Frankie Herrod; his sister Pam (Lee) Lessard and children Renee (Nick) McMahon and children Kael and Lain, and Quinn Lessard; and his sister Marsha Herrod (Trent Wilson). Jerry is also survived by Shirley’s daughters Sharon (Doug) Eiteneier and children Alison (Mike) Cleverley, and children Paislee and Eli, Keith (Natasha) Kozak and children Lori-Ann and Clayton, Colton Kozak; Debbie McColm Neufeld (Mike) and children Carsyn and Lachlan, and Michelle McColm (Billy Barker). Jerry is also survived by his “brother cousin” Guy (Joy) Shannon, his aunt Isabel Herrod and his Herrod cousins Larry, Darlene, Jim and Brian.
Jerry’s family is grateful for the excellent care provided by the health care practitioners in Hudson Bay, Tisdale, Melfort and Saskatoon, and for the care and support from the entire community of Hudson Bay. If you wish, you may make memorial donations in his name to Kinsmen Telemiracle. He loved that event.