JOSEPH "JOE" JERKOVICH AGE 81 WAS CALLED HOME TO THE LORD AFTER A LONG BATTLE WITH CANCER ON MARCH 3, 2024 SURROUNDED BY HIS FAMILY.

JOE WAS BORN DECEMBER 23, 1942 IN MINNEAPOLIS MN.  HE AND HIS FAMILY LIVED IN FRIDLEY MN. HE WENT TO AND GRADUATED FROM FRIDLEY HIGH SCHOOL WHERE HE WRESTLED UNDER HIS COACH, MENTOR, AND LIFE LONG FRIEND, DON MEYERS.  SHORTLY AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, HE MET AND MARRIED THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE, SANDY DOUTHITT AND WERE TOGETHER 62 YEARS.

IN 1962 THEY HAD THIER FIRST SON JOSEPH MICHAEL.  JOE MOVED HIS FAMILY TO ALASKA IN 1974 AND SHORTLY AFTER ADOPTED THEIR 2ND SON, CLINTON ROBERT.  DURING HIS YEARS HE WAS A PIONEER AND MASTER OF THE ELEMENTS AS A LONG HAUL TRUCK DRIVER, A CAPTAIN OF HIS SEA FISHING BOAT, AND A PILOT IN THE FRONTIER OF ALASKA.

IN 2005 THEY MOVED TO MERCER, ND.  HE SPENT THE REMAINDER OF HIS DAYS DOING THE THINGS HE LOVED; HUNTING WITH HIS GRANDSON CONNOR, TRAINING HIS DOGS, GARDENING AND SPENDING TIME WITH HIS GRANDKIDS AND FAMILY.

HE WAS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HIS FATHER, ABDON AND MOTHER, DOROTHY.

HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE, SANDRA; HIS TWO SONS, JOSEPH (SARA) AND CLINT (AMANDA); TWO BROTHERS, AB (LINDA) AND FRANK (SALLY); HIS SISTER, CAROL AND 6 GRANDCHILDREN, JACKSON, CONNOR, TYLER, MEGAN, PARKER AND RYLEE. HE WILL BE MISSED AND LOVED FOREVER.

WE WILL HOLD A CELEBRATION OF LIFE AT A LATER DATE.