August 6, 1940 - April 22, 2024
In Loving Memory ~
Gerald Duane Palsson, known to most as Jerry, passed away in Tucson, Arizona on April 22, 2024. Born on August 6, 1940 in Nipawin, Saskatchewan to Inga and Harry Palsson, Jerry was the third of six children in his family. They grew up in a humble and loving home, first in Saskatchewan and later in Kinnaird/Castlegar, British Columbia.
As the first in his family to attend university, Jerry proudly earned dual bachelor's degrees in mathematics and physics from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver in 1963.
One of his earliest jobs was teaching high school science in Kamloops, where he also coached the girls' basketball team (notably employing a zone defense). His love of learning and books led him back to UBC, and he earned a degree in library science in 1966. He stayed at his alma mater, launching a four-decade career in academic libraries as a Reference Librarian at the Woodward Biomedical Library. He went on to serve at the University of Arizona for six years, and at San Diego State University for 27 years, before retiring in 2003.
Jerry was married twice, and with his second wife Iliana had three children: Felicia Anne, Erika Marie, and Matthew Gerald. They raised their family in San Diego, where Jerry taught his children to love reading and the virtue of a well-timed joke.
Jerry loved the radio, and became an amateur radio operator, earning his technician class license in September of 1987 and then his extra class license in August of 1988. Under the call sign AA6KI, he communicated with other hams across the globe, including his brothers Roland and Randy (VE7ESJ and VE7ETJ, respectively).
After retiring, Jerry returned to Tucson and embraced the peace of the Sonoran Desert. He loved watching the wildlife around his home—which he nicknamed Canadian Cactus Estates—and cheering on the Arizona women's basketball team.
Jerry is dearly missed by all who knew him, especially his two daughters, Felicia and Erika, his granddaughter Leah Kalker, his siblings Linda Gemmell, Courtney Palsson, and Randy Palsson, and his former spouse Iliana M. Sonntag.
He is predeceased by his son Matthew, his brother Roland Palsson, and his sister Linnea Keizer.
Jerry's life will be celebrated at a later date in both Tucson and British Columbia, Canada. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jerry's name to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum or the Castlegar Public Library.
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