Gerald “Jerry” Allen Rose, age 79, of Grand Rapids, MI (formerly of Cornell), went home to be with his Savior on Tuesday, April 27, 2021. He was born on August 6, 1941 to Ralph and Norma (Buckland) Rose, of Cornell, MI. He was educated in the Cornell/Escanaba schools, graduating from EHS with the Class of 1959. A recipient of the Anna C. Norton Scholarship, he graduated from Michigan State University in 1963 with a degree in Forestry. In 1961, he married the former Donna Ward. Their sons, Gerald, Jr. and Andrew were born in 1964 and 1966.
In 1963, Jerry was employed in Crystal Falls as an assistant area forester by the Michigan DNR. He was promoted to area forester in Negaunee in 1965, and in 1974, moved to the Lansing office where he eventually became the Assistant State Forester. In 1987, he was recruited by the Minnesota DNR and was their Director of Forestry until 2000. Before retiring in 2005, Jerry served as a consultant for The National Association of State Foresters and the National Forest Service, and worked internationally on the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. During this time, he helped set up the land management requirements for the well-known SFI designation on wood products.
Jerry was a member of Calvary GR Church, Michigan Forestry Association, Minnesota Forestry Association, and was a “Fellow” of the Society of American Foresters.
He is survived by his wife, Donna, of nearly 60 years; sons, Gerald Jr. (Lisa) of Dimondale, MI and Andrew (Terri) of Grand Rapids, MI; grandchildren, David (Stacy) of Detroit, MI, Benjamín (Bri) of Pearl Harbor HI, Samuel (fiancée Haley Shanks) of Grand Rapids, MI, Katie Pomaville (Patrick) of Grand Ledge, MI, Sara of Grand Rapids, MI, Paul and Anna of Gaylord, MI, and Caleb of Grand Rapids, MI; great-granddaughter, Ella Rose Pomaville, and her brother or sister due in August; brothers, Roger of Iron Mountain, Steve (Kathy) of Cornell, and Brian of Cornell; sisters, Judy Larsen (Karl) of Green Bay, WI, and Myrna Hughes (Charles) of Escanaba.
Private interment services will be held. A Celebration of Jerry’s Life is planned for this summer. In lieu of floral tributes, the family suggests contributions be made to the Escanaba High School for the benefit of the Class of 59 Scholarship Fund, 500 S. Lincoln Rd., Escanaba, MI.
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