James Clarence Gerdeen

He was born to Clarence and Barbara Gerdeen and grew up in Escanaba. At an early age, Jim gave his life to Jesus as his personal Savior and trusted in Him his entire life.

In his early years, he loved playing with his siblings and the cousins next door, hunting, timber work, fixing cars, and playing on the high school football team which meant riding his bike ten miles round trip with his reward chugging a gallon of milk.

He married his life-long sweetheart, Wanda Larry in 1960, and they had three children – Lori, Sonya, and Timothy.

Jim earned a B.S., an M.S., and a Ph.D. from Michigan Technological University (MTU), Ohio State University, and Stanford University — all three in Mechanical Engineering. Jim was full professor and held leadership positions at MTU and at the University of Denver, Colorado — teaching courses in mechanical engineering, Polymers and Plastics, and Robotics until his retirement. Jim was internationally recognized for his research and expertise in pressure vessel design and structural analysis, metal working manufacturing, and mechanical design. After a lifetime of achievement, he was inducted into the Academy of Mechanical Engineers, the hall of fame which MTU bestows on graduates for excellence and leadership in the engineering world (2011).  

Jim also earned a Master of Divinity. He enjoyed pastoring people immensely, and his first pastorate was Maranatha Free Lutheran Church, Houghton, as well as Free Lutheran congregations in Pelkie, Maplewood, Minnesota, and Springfield, Missouri.

Jim had a huge heart, and many people felt like he was the nicest person they had ever met, especially for his brother Joel to whom he donated his bone marrow. Truly, Jim was a humble man who never talked about himself, so we have to. 

Jim is survived by his wife, Wanda; his sister, Lola (Don); his sister-in-law Jeannine (Don); his brothers, Joel (Marilyn) and Bob; his brother-in-law, David; his daughters, Lori (Bill) and Sonya (John); six grandchildren, Peter (Kimber), Joanna (Steven), Harlan, Mary, Innes (Ian), and Connor; along with six great-grandchildren, Kenzie, Jaben, Caleb, Jacksen, Zoey, and Isaiah.

Preceded in death were his parents, his sister Charlotte, his brother-in-law Chris and his son Tim.

Special thanks goes to doctors Brandon Yuan and Rafael Sierra of Mayo Clinic for giving Jim a new hip when no one else would, his nurse navigator, Lisa Waterman, and the nurses and staff at Navigate Wellness who took care of Jim and Wanda the past two years.