Jerome Walz, 80, of Bismarck, passed away on March 4, 2026.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, March 27, at Charity Lutheran Church, 120 Aspen Ave, Bismarck.

To view the service livestream please click on the link provided ~ https://www.youtube.com/@charitylutheranchurch3299. 

Visitation will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 PM, with a prayer service starting at 7:00 PM, Thursday, March 26, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Pkwy, Bismarck.

Burial will be held at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.

Jerome Stone Walz was born December 3, 1945, to Hugo and Selma Walz in Bismarck, ND. He lived most of his young life in Bismarck, graduating from Bismarck High School in 1963. He received his bachelor’s degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN in 1967. After enlisting in the Army in 1968, he was stationed at Fort Myers, Virginia.

Jerry met Renee Setnes of Sisseton, SD at Concordia College; they married on June 29, 1968 and Renee joined him in Virginia. They were transferred to Fort Devins, MA in October of 1968, and lived in Ayer, MA. Jerry received orders for Okinawa, and Renee returned to Sisseton to live with her parents until after their first son was born and she was able to join Jerry in Okinawa. They lived in Okinawa for 3 years; during this time, they adopted their daughter.

They returned to the states in 1972 and settled in Grand Forks, where Jerry attended the University of North Dakota to get his accounting degree. While in Grand Forks, Jerry worked at First National Bank, and their second son was born. Shortly after they moved to Bismarck in 1979, their youngest son was born. Jerry worked for Mandan Steel Fabricators which became True North Steel until his retirement in 2018.

Jerry lived a life of service and cared deeply about his community, spending his time helping others. He was a 20-year member of the Selective Service Board and volunteered for over 30 years on various Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center boards. He was a charter member of Charity Lutheran Church for over 40 years where he volunteered his time and expertise in many areas. Along with more traditional ways of improving the world, you could always count on his sense of humor to brighten your day. Anyone who met Jerry came across a jokester with a sly twinkle in his eye and an impish smile.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Renee; their children Michael Walz (Rebecca), Angela Watkins, Aaron Walz (Shannon), and Nicholas Walz, as well as their grandchildren, Zachary Walz; Ian, William and Lucretia Morgan; Zachary and Brandon Watkins; and Ethan and Salem Hadtrath; sister Karen Johnson, sister-in-law Vangie Walz, brother-in-law Paul (Cynthia) Setnes, sister-in-law Jeanne Setnes, brothers-in-law Rev. Timothy Grassinger and Michael Nelson, and many nieces and nephews.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents Hugo and Selma Walz, parents-in-law Parnell & Anetta Setnes, sister Joan and brother-in-law Harold Johnson, brother Robert Walz, brother Don and sister-in-law Gladys Walz, sister Mary Grassinger, sister-in-law Julie Nelson, and great nephew Mathias Peña.

Memorials may be given to Charity Lutheran Church, Wellspring for the World, Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center, or donor's choice.