Gerald "Jerry" L. Schmitcke

Gerald "Jerry" L. Schmitcke passed away on May 10, 2024.

A funeral service will be held at 1:00 PM, Thursday, May 16, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Pkwy, Bismarck.

Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 PM, Wednesday, May 15, at Parkway Funeral Service.

Gerald was born in Bismarck, ND on September 23, 1946, to Lyle & Esther (Eisenbarth) Schmitcke of Hazelton. He was the first born of six boys.

Jerry attended school in Hazelton, ND and graduated from Hazelton High School in 1964. Following high school, he attended Bismarck Junior College for a short time. He went to work for McLean Well Drilling before starting up his own construction company.  He ran J&J construction for many years, building homes, apartment complexes and more.

On May 24, 1974, he married Kathleen McLean.  She was raised on a farm in rural Burleigh County, south of Menoken and her and Jerry purchased that farm where they worked the land and enjoyed their animals, especially dogs and horses.  

Kathleen passed away on April 27, 2008.  Jerry continued to live on the farm until 2022 when he moved to Bismarck.  

Jerry loved the outdoors whether it be building, farming, tending to his horses, or hunting, especially elk hunting. He was also an inventor in his own way.  He enjoyed spending time with his significant other, Mary Wicks.

He is survived by his brothers Alvin, Dean (Arlene) and Kevin (Patti) along with many nieces and nephews and his significant other, Mary Wicks.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Myron and Wayne.