Brynildson, Gerald "Jerry" Ardell passed away on 5/23/2023 at Regent of Burnsville. Jerry was born at home in Taylor, Wisconsin on February 18, 1932 to Guy and Alice (Jacobson) Brynildson. Jerry spoke Norwegian until he started elementary school. Once he started to speak and read English his quest and drive to learn was insatiable. He was known to keep a book in his back pocket. At the age of 17, he finished High School and enlisted into the Navy during the Korean War. He was cross trained as a dental and medical corpsman and assigned to the Marines. After his military service, he attended the University of Wisconsin-River Falls where he met the love of his life, Barbara Lovaas. They were married in September 1955. His love for learning spurred him onto earn a master's degree from the University of Utah and a Phd from the University of Minnesota. Jerry was a lifelong public servant. He was a teacher, principal and superintendent in the Isle, Cannon Falls and Forest Lake School Districts. He loved spending time with his family at the cabin in the woods. Jerry is survived by his wife, Barbara of 67 years. His children Bob (Kim) Brynildson, Jeri Brynildson (Rick) Braun, Jim (Louise) Brynildson, and Rick Brynildson; eleven grandchildren and five great grandchildren; sisters-in-law Loaine Brynildson and Carol Iverson and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Guy and Alice Brynildson, brother, James Brynildson, sisters and brothers-in-law Gloria and Eugene Quador, Loraine and Ron Losness, and Donna Omer Schultz and Jack Omer and Arnie Schultz, nephew, Jerome Brynildson, brother-in-law Clayton Iverson and parents-in-law Robert and Hortense Lovaas. A celebration of life and memorial service will be held on Thursday, June 15th at 11:00 AM with visitation from 10-11AM at Cross Lutheran Church, 1945 Prosperity Road, Maplewood, MN 55109. A luncheon will follow the service in the fellowship hall. Interment with military honors will be held on Tuesday, August 1st at 11:00 at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Memorials are preferred to Second Harvest Heartland or Grace Hospice