Jerry Drinkall

HOFF FUNERAL AND CREMATION SERVICE - RUSHFORD, 507-864-7771 Jerry Lee Drinkall, 62, of Lanesboro, Minn. died on Monday, June 17, 2013, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minn. after a long battle with Multiple System Atrophy. Jerry was born on September 16, 1950, in Preston, Minn. to Lyle and Violet (Krahn) Drinkall. He was raised in Fillmore until he was five years old, then moved to the Drinkall farm south of Lanesboro. He attended Grubtown Country School until it closed in his 5th grade year. Jerry then attended Lanesboro Public Schools, where he graduated in 1968. He then attended Winona State University and the University of Minnesota - Waseca. On May 20, 1978, he married Diane Jensen at North Prairie Lutheran Church in rural Lanesboro. Jerry worked for Minnesota Farm Builders of Rushford for thirteen years and Engen Construction of Mabel for a few years. He started his own dairy farm in 1982, where he worked side by side his wife and children, raising Registered Jerseys and Holsteins, until the dairy dispersal on June 11, 2011. Jerry continued to give his expertise to his son and wife on the few dairy heifers they had left, and on their Registered Angus herd until the day he died. He was a member of the Minnesota Jersey Cattle Association, the Holstein Associations, the American Angus Association, North Prairie Lutheran Church, and was a 4-H leader. Jerry had a passion for hard work, especially tossing hay bales in the haymow. He was also passionate about dairy and beef cattle genetics, and liked attending dairy and beef shows and sales. He was also an avid reader, especially of farm, dairy, and beef papers, magazines, and websites. He is survived by his loving wife of thirty five years, Diane Drinkall of Lanesboro, Minn.; three children: Jennifer (Patrick) Skiba of North Branch, Minn., Adam Drinkall of Lanesboro, Minn., and Stephanie Drinkall of Lanesboro, Minn.; three grandchildren: Peter, Abigail, and Andrew Skiba of North Branch, Minn.; His father, Lyle Drinkall of Chatfield, Minn. Three brothers: Russell (Lynn) Drinkall of Winthrop, Minn.; Randy (Kari) Drinkall of Rushford, Minn., Lowell (Krystle) Drinkall of Lanesboro, Minn. and a sister, Nancy (Jerry) Willford of Spring Valley, Minn.; and by many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Violet Drinkall and a nephew, Terry Willford (Godson). Keeping in line with the scheduled benefit which had been planned for Jerry this Sunday, Jerry's Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 23, at North Prairie Lutheran Church with the Rev. Janet Warnes and the Rev. Ronald Warnes officiating. Burial will be in the North Prairie Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation is scheduled from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday at Hoff Funeral and Cremation Service in Rushford and one hour prior to the service at the church on Sunday. Leave a memory of Jerry and sign his online guestbook at www.hofffuneral.com
Tribute video can be found at: videos.lifetributes.com/406009