Gerald W. Bakken

Gerald W. Bakken, 82 passed away on May 24, 2022 at Methodist Hospital.  He was born March 20, 1940 in Duluth Minnesota, the son of Finn Bakken and Marcella (Smith) Bakken.

Gerald graduated from Proctor High School, class of 1958. Following graduation, he attended University of Minnesota, Duluth where he graduated in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education. Gerry married his high school sweetheart and love of his life Judy (the cute girl with the blond ponytail on who lived on Oak Street) on August 8, 1964.

As newlyweds (he, a newly minted teacher, she, a labor & delivery nurse), they moved to Albert Lea, then Sault Sainte Marie, MI where their son Eric was born.  They relocated to Minneapolis, where daughter Greta was born.  They settled in Plymouth in 1973.  Judy and Gerry celebrated 58 years of marriage last August.

Gerry worked most of his career and retired from Aquila Elementary in St. Louis Park as a physical education teacher. While Gerry lived in the Twin Cities, he loved the North Shore of Lake Superior and enjoyed trips up to “The Shack” north of Hovland, where he would camp and canoe.  Pop loved to fish and took all the grandkids out for fishing expeditions with varying degrees of success.

He was a creator and an artist.  He painted, sketched and once used our little red wagon to mix concrete for an art project, much to the kids’ chagrin.  Gerry’s real passion was photography.  His favorite subjects were Lake Superior and his family.  He enjoyed learning and experimenting with avant-garde photo techniques and was a member of the Minnetonka Camera Club, where his images won many awards and praise during the monthly meeting/salons.

He was a big baseball fan.  He pitched in high school and then in the St Louis Park rec leagues in the early 80s.  He loved to watch baseball, especially the Twins.  He also was a regular participant in the “Jaunt With Jim” bike rides across Minnesota with Star Tribune columnist Jim Klobuchar.

Gerry was active in the MN Ham Radio community and was proud of his call sign N0MIP.

Gerry’s biggest joy in life was his grandchildren and family.  Pop was funny.  He cornered the market on “Pop Jokes” that were next-level terrible Dad jokes.  He loved his grandkids so very much and was always there to lend an ear or a shoulder to cry on.

Gerry was preceded in death by both his parents. He is survived by his wife, Judith (Peterson) Bakken, his son Eric Bakken and his wife Ann, of Eagan; his daughter Greta Bakken-Miller and her husband Lawrence Miller of Plymouth; grandchildren Sammy Miller, Stella Miller, and Finn Bakken; brother David Bakken of Arkansas; nieces Jennifer Bakken and Sue (Bakken) Hunt.

Services will be held on June 5th from 2-4 pm at Gearty-Delmore Plymouth Chapel, 15800 37th Ave. N.