Obituary of Gerald Thomas Hoover

GERALD THOMAS HOOVER

                Jerry (74) was born May 20, 1947 in Superior, Wisconsin to Herbert and Lorraine (Hughson) Hoover. He passed away on February 18, 2022 in his Duluth home after living over a decade with the many challenges of Parkinson’s disease.

                Jerry attended Blaine Elementary, Erickson Jr. High, and Superior Central High School. After graduation, Jerry enlisted in the army and went to Fort Leonard Wood, MO for basic training. After a series of tests, he was invited to attend Officer Candidate School where he received advanced infantry training and Quartermaster Officer training. He spent a year in Fort Hood, TX as a food service officer and was the ranking officer in charge of disaster relief after Hurricane Beulah ravaged Southern Texas in 1968. In March of 1968, as a 20-year-old 1^st Lt, he was reassigned to Cu Chi, Vietnam as Class I (Food) Officer and Platoon leader for the 25^th Infantry, in charge of feeding the entire division of 20,000 people. He was in Vietnam for a year and received 2 Bronze stars for meritorious service in ground operations against hostile forces.

                After leaving the army, Jerry attended the University of Wisconsin, Superior. While in school, he worked as a bartender at Eddie’s Supper Club and the Hammond. He married Karen Bianco of Duluth on December 28, 1971 and they moved to Eau Claire, WI. Jerry finished his college education at the University of Wisconsin, Stout in Menomonie, majoring in hotel/restaurant management. When Jerry and Karen moved back to Duluth in 1974, he worked as a business enterprise counselor for the blind and then became assistant manager of the Robin Hood Restaurant.

                In 1979, Jerry and Karen purchased a vintage 1903 Cretor’s popcorn wagon, launching the Hoovie’s Wagon Popcorn business, which they operated in Canal Park and downtown Duluth’s Holiday Center for the next 37 years. Jerry worked in the wagons until 2012, when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Karen continued to operate the business until it was sold in 2016.

                Jerry is survived by his wife, Karen, daughters Marnessa (Jeff) Skrypek, Lacey (Alex) Messenger, and Oriana Hoover; grandchildren Tyler and Carter Skrypek and Orson Messenger; and brothers Herbert (Laura), Michael, and Randall (Jan) Hoover. He was preceded in death by his parents and his son, Nathan Hoover.

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 PM on Sunday, March 6 at the Cremation Society of Minnesota, 4100 Grand Ave. in Duluth. There will be a visitation one hour prior to the service. Masks are required.