Gerald Davis

Gerald L. Davis, 82, of Litchfield, MN, passed away Wednesday, April 21, 2010, at the Emmanuel Home in Litchfield. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, May 5, 2010 at the Litchfield United Methodist Church with pastor Bill Kerr officiating. A gathering of friends and family will be held from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Tuesday, May 4th at Johnson-Hagglund Funeral Home and will continue one hour prior to the service at church. Interment of the cremated remains will be in the Springfield Cemetery. Gerald Leon Davis, the son of Freeman and Mary Beatrice (Kelly) Davis, was born on February 28, 1928 in Monticello, MN. He grew up and received his education in Monticello and graduated from the Monticello High School in 1946. After graduation he contracted polio but, beat the effects and continued his education at Augsburg. Gerald was very athletic and excelled in football, basketball and baseball. On September 9, 1950, he was united in marriage to Arlene June Lartz at the Methodist Church in Springfield. After graduating from Augsburg in 1951 he taught and coached in Fulda, MN before moving to Litchfield in 1954 to fill the head basketball coaching position. In Litchfield Gerald taught 9th grade algebra his entire teaching career. Other than coaching 9th grade football until 1969, he also was an assistant baseball coach and then became the Jr. High Athletic Director until retiring in 1987. Gerald had bought a farm west of Litchfield in 1967 and after retiring from teaching his focus turned to farming. He raised registered angus beef cattle, quarter horses, hogs and sheep. He served on the Meeker County Planning and Zoning Board from 1988 until 2002. He was a lifetime member of the Methodist church and was active in the Litchfield church ushering, teaching Sunday School, acting as Sunday School Superintendant and being on the Pastor/Parish Relationship Committee. Gerald enjoyed teaching farm safety to young farm kids after retiring from teaching. He also enjoyed playing and watching sports, hunting, fishing, farming and especially being with his grandchildren on the farm. Gerald is survived by his children; Gregory (and Carol) of Paynesville, Gaye (and Paul) Martin of Grove City, Gary (and Mimi) Davis of Litchfield, 5 grandchildren; Geoffrey Davis, Christine Davis, Nick Davis, Emily Davis and Natalie Davis. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Arlene in 2004 and brothers Freeman Davis Jr. and Chandler Davis.