Remembering Gerald E. "Jerry" Pokrzywinski

Gerald E. “Jerry” Pokrzywinski, operator of the Campus Barber Shop at the Memorial Union, passed away Thursday, March 31, at Altru Hospital, Grand Forks, surrounded by his loving family. He was 74.

Gerald Earl Pokrzywinski was born Jan. 13, 1937, to Michael and Delphine (Dauksavage) Pokrzywinski in Oslo, Minn. He graduated from Alvarado High School in 1955 and entered the United States Army on Oc. 17, 1955. He was honorably discharged on Aug.16, 1957, and returned to North Dakota, where he graduated from Molar Barber College in Fargo. He married Darline Riskey on Oct. 16, 1958, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Oslo. In 1959 he began operating the Campus Barber Shop at UND. He ran the barber shop for over 50 years, up until the Monday before his passing.

He is survived by his wife, Darline; children, Richard (Diana) Pokrzywinski, Watford City, N.D., Todd (Ronda) Pokrzywinski, Grand Forks, Rhonda (Brian) Kvidt, Thompson, N.D., Cheryl (Candonn) Granger, Reynolds, N.D.; 11 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; a brother, Marlan (Bonnie), Crookston, Minn., and sister, Arlene (Norris) Thune, Thief River Falls, Minn.

He was preceded in death by his parents and 3 infant siblings.

Mass of Christian Burial: 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 5, 2011 in Holy Family Catholic Church, Grand Forks. Visitation: 5 to 7 p.m. Monday with a 4:30 p.m. rosary service and 7 p.m. vigil service at Holy Family Catholic Church. Visitation will continue for one hour prior to the liturgy in the church on Tuesday. Burial: Calvary Cemetery South, Grand Forks, in the spring. Military Honors: Members of the American Legion Post 157, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3817 and the North Dakota National Guard, in the spring.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to the Catholic Development Foundation for Seminary Education, 5201 Bishops Blvd., Suite A, Fargo, ND 58104 – 7605. The online memorial registry may be signed at www.normanfuneral.com.

— Courtesy Grand Forks Herald.