Gerald W. Mansfield, born on May 2, 1935, passed away at the age of 86 in the early morning of Aug. 11. He was a Colorado native and a longtime resident at Parkwood Estates in Ft. Collins.
Gerald entered the Military (US Army) in 1954 and he served in Germany, during the Korean War. After his military service he worked for the city of Fort Collins at the Light Plant on Cache La Poudre River, on North College Avenue. He worked there until the plant closed. Jerry was employed next by Colorado State University heating plant as a boiler operator and eventually retired from that position.
Gerald’s parents were John Martin Mansfield and Addie May McClure of Fort Collins. He was the youngest of ten children.
Jerry married Barbara Paul in 1961. They had five children and were divorced after 15 years. Jerry married a second time to Betty Hansen. He and Betty had two more children together. They divorced years later. One of his hobbies was raising exotic fish and turtles in his 60-gallon fish tank. He enjoyed horses, especially Tennessee Walkers, and liked to train and ride them. Jerry was a big game hunter and also loved to fish. He took the family on many camping trips and he enjoyed riding his Harley Davidson. Jerry was definitely an outdoorsman and took advantage of living in the beautiful state of Colorado. Gerald grew up attending church and remained a member of Calvary Baptist Temple until his death.
In addition to his parents, Jerry was predeceased by three brothers, Robert Dale Mansfield, John Martin Mansfield Jr., and Eugene Howard Mansfield; four sisters, Ruby Stewart, Phyllis Chance, Erma Rae Montgomery and Mary Jane Mansfield who died of scarlet fever at age seven.
Jerry is survived by siblings, Ruth Taber of Calif., and Harold L. Mansfield of Ariz.; Gerald’s children including six boys and one girl (listed from oldest to youngest), Jeffrey (Wendy) of Ft. Collins, Jon (Shelley) of Wellington, Wesley Mansfield of LaPorte, Guy (Tammy) of Loveland, Melinda (Scott) Fearnot of Ft. Morgan, Joshua (Jerrelyn) of Montana, and Daniel Mansfield of Ft. Collins. Jerry also leaves behind 13 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
His funeral service will be at 1 p.m., on Saturday Aug. 21, at his church, Calvary Baptist Temple, 2420 Laporte Avenue in Ft. Collins. The service may be viewed online via Facebook-Calvary Baptist Temple, Fort Collins, and Youtube.com/Calvarybaptisttemple.
