Gerald E. "Jerry" Ochs

Click here to watch Gerald's Memorial Service.

Gerald E. “Jerry” Ochs, 80, of Aberdeen, passed away Friday, March 2, 2018 at Aberdeen Health and Rehab.  

His memorial service will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 9, 2018, at Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary & Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, with Father Michael Griffin officiating.

Jerry’s wishes were to be cremated.  Burial, with military rites, will take place at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Aberdeen.

A luncheon and time of fellowship will follow the burial at Schriver’s Memorial Fellowship Center.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the mortuary.

Friends may sign Jerry’s online guestbook and also view his service via the live stream service link at www.schriversmemorial.com.

Gerald E. Ochs was born April 11, 1937, to Bernard J. and Lucille V. (Newmann) Ochs in Aberdeen, SD.  This is the area where he was raised and attended school, graduating from Aberdeen Central High School with the Class of 1955.  Following graduation, Jerry entered the United States Air Force in 1955 and served his country on active duty until 1959 and in the Reserves until 1963, when he received his Honorable Discharge.  Upon returning to Aberdeen, Jerry furthered his education at Northern State Teacher’s College.  Jerry was united in marriage to Rochelle Marie Kramer in Aberdeen on December 28, 1963.  Their union was blessed with three sons.  Jerry received a Bachelor’s Degree in Education in 1966 and then began what would become a 32-year career in education, teaching Business Education and TV and Film Production at Aberdeen Central High School.  During that time, Jerry also started Cable Channel 7 TV, Aberdeen Public Schools TV and supervised the Central High School weight room for students and adults, seven nights a week for many, many, years.  He retired in 1999 and continued to make Aberdeen his home until the time of his death.   

Jerry had a passion for weightlifting and was quite accomplished at it.  He won over 50 Championships in Olympic Weightlifting, Powerlifting and Bodybuilding in South Dakota and the region.  In 1972, Jerry was named South Dakota Amateur Athlete of The Year for Olympic Weightlifting and was elected to the South Dakota AAU Weightlifting “Hall-of-Fame” in 1978.
Jerry was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Aberdeen, the Aberdeen School Board & Hub-Area Technical School Board, NEA, SDEA, AEA and the South Dakota School Board Association, as well as being a member of the South Dakota AAU, US Powerlifting Association and serving as President of the Aberdeen YMCA Board of Directors from 1978 through 1981.  

Grateful to have shared in Jerry’s life are his children:  Stuart Scott Ochs, PhD of Coventry, CT, Richard A. (Amy) Ochs of Rosholt, SD and Lance E. (Toweya) Brown-Ochs of Eden Prairie, MN; three grandchildren:  Isaiah Brown-Ochs, Miles Brown-Ochs and Ayden Ochs; one brother, Steven D. Ochs of Houston, TX; and one sister, Bernadine (Ken) Clark of Baxter, MN.

Jerry is preceded in death by his wife, Rochelle; his parents, Bernard and Lucille; and one brother, David A. Ochs.  

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Wounded Warrior Project.
    

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