Gerald "Jerry" Curtis Vein

Note: Service Date Change

Gerald “Jerry” Vein, of Grand Forks, died peacefully at Luther Memorial Home, in Mayville, ND on Thursday, Oct. 17th, due to complications of Alzheimer's Disease. He was 76 years old.

Gerald Curtis Vein was born October 13, 1948, in Grand Forks, ND. He was the eldest of six sons born to Gordon and Arlene (Skibicki) Vein. He grew up on the family farm near Niagara, ND where he was baptized in 1960. A few years later he was confirmed at Elk Valley Lutheran Church in rural McCanna, ND. His grade school years were spent in a one-room schoolhouse near the family farm. He attended Fordville High School, Fordville, ND and was a member of the Class of ’66. He enjoyed participating in baseball, football and curling. In 1965, his father drowned during a fishing accident in Canada, which later led to his mother leaving the farm and moving the family to Grand Forks.

In 1968, Jerry enlisted in the US Navy. He served aboard the USS Kitty Hawk; where he was part of the Crash and Salvage Division. His service included two tours of duty in Vietnam and assignment to the former Naval Air Facility in Adak, Alaska. His experience in the Navy inspired him to pursue more education in Fire Science. He was honorably discharged in 1972. He enrolled in Mt. San Jacinto College, Riverside County, CA and completed an Associate of Science degree in Fire Science.

In 1978, Jerry returned to ND and joined the GF Fire Department as a Fire Fighter and later became a Fire Marshal for the City. Part-time, he taught CPR and First Aid to many businesses, organizations, medical personnel and individuals in the Grand Forks area.

Jerry married Mary Hofstad Oakes on March 8, 1985. He and Mary raised two children; David and Amy. Both Jerry and Mary loved spending summer weekends at Grace Lake; with Jerry pulling David and Amy skiing, knee-boarding and wakeboarding. Throughout the years; Jerry enjoyed hunting with his children, brothers, nieces and nephews near the family farm.

Jerry loved participating in events and serving the Grand Forks community. During the flood of 1997; he worked with the Emergency Operations Center providing information and instruction to the public. Over the years, he served many organizations and projects including Crime Stoppers, Safe Kids, Rotary, Junior Achievement, Chamber of Commerce and teaching Fire Safety and Babysitting classes to elementary and middle school students.

During his adult years Jerry developed a special interest in growing his Christian faith. He became an avid Bible reader, participated in many Bible studies and read the works of several Christian authors. He was an Event Coordinator for Compassion International for several years. He participated in mission trips to Honduras, Dominican Republic and Ethiopia. He loved the Lord and, even in his last weeks, would still sing “Jesus Loves Me”.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; infant brother, David Vein; brother, John Vein; nephew, Marc (Alexa) Vein; uncle and aunt Omar and Ruth Vein; uncle and aunt Harold and Mary Ellen Skibicki; uncle and aunt Elvin and Dorothy Smestad and uncle Marvin (Laurel) Skibicki.

He is survived by his wife Mary; son, David Vein (Spring Bailie), Burnsville, MN; daughter, Amy Vein, Grand Forks; brothers, Charlie (Leeza) Vein, Grand Forks; Ken (Deb) Vein, Grand Forks; Chris Vein (Christopher Read), San Miguel, Mexico; Junella Vein, Fargo, ND; sisters-in-law, Ann Merkouris, Isanti, MN; Sue Hofstad, Cambridge, MN; and Patti Hofstad (Tom Bach), Bloomington, MN; uncle Donald Skibicki, Anchorage, Alaska; aunt Laurel Skibicki, Fordville ND;  and several cousins, nieces and nephews.

The Vein family would like to thank the staff of Luther Memorial Home and Hospice of the Red River Valley for their dedicated service and kindness they provided to Jerry and our family. We have been blessed by their care.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to the Alzheimer's Association, Hope Church, Grand Forks, American Legion, EGF/GF, Luther Memorial Home and Hospice of the Red River Valley.

John 3: 16-17: For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but will have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Thursday, October 31, 2024, at Hope Church, Grand Forks, ND. Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, October 31, 2024, at Hope Church, Grand Forks, ND.