Gerald "Jerry" Joel Farol

On October 8, 2020, Gerald (Jerry) Farol passed away with his son Scott at his side and surrounded by the love and prayers of many. He leaves behind his beloved wife Patricia (Pat) Farol, with whom he shared nearly 42 years of a rich, happy and adventure-filled married life. They resided in the latter years in AZ, spending part of the year in MN.

Jerry was born in 1940 to Verona and Martin Farol in Grand Forks, ND and passed at the age of 80 in Fargo, ND. When young, he spent time on his grandparents' farm, working the fields with horse teams; he enjoyed recounting the many stories of these early experiences and the work ethic that this taught him. Growing up in Fargo, ND, he graduated from Fargo Central High School. He began his career in the printing business when starting out as a typesetter. Diligently learning the trade, he worked his way into the sales service department of, and was eventually promoted to, General Manager of Western Paper of Fargo, ND. He took great pride in his career. For several years, he was part of a group of local businessmen who met for morning coffee at the old 400 on Broadway. He was involved in local organizations and one that he truly enjoyed was the Fargo Optimists Club. All who knew Jerry, knew him to be a steadfast and loyal friend.

Jerry and Pat enjoyed travel and kept a map of the many national parks and monuments they visited; they kept many photos and mementos of their travels. A favorite destination was the Hawaiian Islands, especially Kauai. They made the annual trek up the Crazy Horse Monument in the Black Hills of SD, not just once, but twice; the second time was to share this adventure with their granddaughter, Ruby, with whom they traveled, extensively. They enjoyed attending Native American pow wows, including The Gathering of Nations Pow Wow in Albuquerque, NM, as well as traveling and visiting friends they made who lived on reservation lands. They also attended and were involved in Indigenous ceremonies, something that few are honored to experience. They spent many years exploring his father's Native American heritage, originating on the White Earth reservation in MN, where they eventually located his paternal grandfather's grave site, an accomplishment requiring years of research. He also explored his mother's heritage, bringing his mother, Verona on the trip of a lifetime to Germany, where they visited many cultural sites. He led a rich and rewarding life, growing to appreciate people of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

Jerry loved fishing, making annual trips to Canada with a group of fishing buddies. As evidenced by the grease splatters on his well-worn camp clothing, he was often the head cook for the fish they enjoyed while camping. Among his many gifts were his masterful capabilities in cooking, these gourmet skills were shared with Pat, and the two of them put on memorable holiday feasts, thoroughly enjoyed by close family members. He was one of those guys that could fix pretty much anything; he was very detail-oriented, one might say almost to a fault, although this attention to detail allowed him to master many skills with precision. Among his major sources of pride was the completion of, and caring for, the log home that he and Pat designed and had built on their riverside property, south of Fargo, ND; a home they lost to the 2009 flood, after which, they moved to AZ. Over the decades, he planted and nurtured many seedling trees that he obtained for National Arbor Day; he enjoyed watching them grow to their full glory. One hobby he enjoyed for several years earned him the humorous title we gave him of 'Martin Farmer;' he had many Martin houses that he kept the birds returning to, year after year. After having moved to AZ, they enjoyed the birds that nested near their porch and observing the wildlife in the greenway behind their home. Making the annual drive up north, they continued to enjoy the greenery of MN summers.

Jerry had a great love of little children and they loved him immensely; he just had a special way with them, getting into their faces and working through any shyness, completely winning them over. This easy relationship with the little ones allowed him to study them and get to know their adorable, small selves; he enjoyed talking with them and chuckled at their responses and their views on life. He made the extra effort to make special memories by doing Grandpa activities with them. One forever golden memory is the love that shone on his face while the two little great granddaughters sang Happy Birthday to him for his 80th birthday; this is a memory that we hold very dear. He took character-capturing pictures of the grandkids and great grandkids that he then made into special cards for birthdays and other occasions. Jerry made the effort to make life meaningful, every day. He had a lot of wisdom to share and he did this by weaving his life lessons into stories that imparted special meaning to the recipient of these gems, shared from his largess of heart and his desire to pass along lasting memories.

He would want all to know that even if not in touch, he kept all of his loved ones in his heart, regardless of the passage of time without contact from them. And by his many friends, Jerry was known as loyal, with a ready smile and easy laughter. His presence was larger than life and he is very greatly missed.

Gerald Farol was preceded in death by his father Martin, mother Verona, brothers, Arnold and Robert; brother-in-law Dean; son Fredrick, and granddaughter Dana.

He is survived by his beloved wife Patricia, siblings Linda and Ron (Rita), children Natalie, Scott, Kristen, Brian, daughter-in-law Linda; 8 grandchildren ranging in age from 7 to 29 years, Ruby, Jennifer (Weston), Josiah (Lauren), Joshua, Kasandra, Alissa, Shannon (Morgan), and Jared; 10 great-grandchildren ranging in age from 4 to 28 years, Zuri, Zarlayna, Aiden, Alexis, Avery, Madison, Karli, Paetyn, Shawna, and Shawn; 3 great-great-grandchildren Jru, Jaymes,and Tyus; many nieces, nephews, and cousins; stepdaughter Debbie (David), step-granddaughter Eva, and step-grandchild Devon.

Memorial Services are pending.


A Memorial Poem, by Anonymous

Speak of me as you have always done,
Remember the good times, laughter, and fun.

Share the happy memories we've made.
Do not let them wither or fade.

I'll be with you in the summer's sun
And when the winter's chill has come.

I'll be the voice that whispers in the breeze.
I'm peaceful now, put your mind at ease.

I've rested my eyes and gone to sleep,
But memories we've shared are yours to keep,

Sometimes our final days may be a test,
But remember me when I was at my best.

Although things may not be the same,
Don't be afraid to use my name.

Let your sorrow last for just a while.
Comfort each other and try to smile.

I've lived a life filled with joy and fun.
Live on now, make me proud of what you'll become.

In loving memory of Jerry J. Farol, beloved Husband, Dad, Grandpa, Great Grandpa, brother, uncle, and dear friend. Forever in our hearts.