Obituary for Mr. Gerald Vernon Dahling Remembering GERALD VERNON DAHLING January 11, 1947 – April 5, 2018 Dr. Gerald Vernon Dahling (71) of Rosemount Minnesota, formally of Bellchester, MN went home to our Lord on April 5 th 2018. Jerry was born on January 11, 1947 to Lucille and Vernon Dahling in Red Wing, Minnesota. He graduated with a B.S. from Winona State after beginning his collegiate work at MacPhail School of Music and Dramatic Art.
He completed his Master’s Degree of Science from the University of Minnesota, followed by a PhD in biology from Harvard University. He worked as a professor of Botany at Macalester College, until he sought a law degree at William Mitchell College of Law and began practicing law as an intellectual patent attorney in Greenfield, Indiana, moving shortly thereafter to Indianapolis where he raised his family and continued advancing his career. Jerry enjoyed a successful career in law for more than 40 years and held positions as Senior Vice President in offices all over the world, including living in Lyon, France where he headed up the Patent departments of Sanofi Pasteur.
Jerry married his first love, Edell Villella Dahling, in July of 1969. While their marriage ended in the mid 1990’s, they were married for 26 years, and remained very close, with Edell at Jerry’s hospital bedside the days before he died. Jerry often credited Edell for being instrumental in his ability to seek advanced degrees at both Harvard and William Mitchell.
Although he enjoyed and felt challenged by his career, it was his family and children that he always said he was most proud of. Family was of utmost importance to Jerry and the traditions of finding the perfect Christmas tree, going to Christmas mass, and trying new French wines at holiday dinners will always be thought of with fond memories. Jerry held much enthusiasm for life with many hobbies and interests.
He enjoyed photography, gardening, fine arts, movies, food and wine tasting, entertaining, and scenic drives. He was a scientist, historian, and teacher at heart. In his early career days when he taught botany at Macalester, he would take groups of students down to Mexico and Costa Rica for plant collecting work, with Edell and tiny Christopher and Lisa strapped in baby carriers on their backs.
Jerry was well-known for his love of travel. He prepared extensively for every trip and enjoyed each moment to the fullest. Jerry was proud to have had the opportunity to travel 6 of the 7 continents.
Some of his favorite places were Yellowstone, Glacier, Lake Louise, Rome, Venice, and southern Germany. Jerry traveled to Italy more than 20 times and so truly was an expert. He made it a point to help others enjoy travel as much as he did.
He took his mother and great Aunt Margaret to Italy and Germany and his brother, Jim, to the Holy land. He was better than a paid tour guide on any trip. His children always joked about just wanting a “normal beach vacation”.
Instead, they would hike historic ruins in Mexico, travel by horseback to see the pyramids in Egypt, or walk the stations of the cross in Israel. If they did make it to the beach, it was the Dead Sea. Gerald was about teaching others, and travel was about education: learning and experiencing the related history, culture, food, and how big and rich our world really is.
Gerald has joined his son David Denis Dahling, beloved Mother, Lucille, and Father, Vernon Dahling, and his favorite aunt, Margaret and Uncle Ferdinand Dahling, who preceded him in death. Jerry is survived by his children, Christopher (Kathryn Gorre), Lisa (Craig Thompson), and Mary-Therese (John Neuman), his sister, Ruth, and brother, Jim Dahling, 8 beautiful grandchildren, (Abigail, Matthew, Jack, Michael, Isabella, Elizabeth, Emma, and Katelyn,) and many beloved family members and friends. Gerald will be remembered for his generous heart, his unyielding desire to help others, and his dedication to hard work and excellence in whatever he was doing Upcoming Events Visitation 2018 APR 12.
11:00 AM – 01:00 PM Basilica of St. Mary Hennepin Ave. & 17th Street Minneapolis, MN, US Order Flowers for the Visitation Guaranteed delivery before Gerald’s Visitation begins. church service 2018 APR 12.
12:00 PM – 01:00 PM Basilica of St. Mary Hennepin Ave. & 17th Street Minneapolis, MN, US Order Flowers for the church service Guaranteed delivery before Gerald’s church service begins.
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