Jerry Henry Hannah

Jerry “Butch” Hannah, 84, of Bemidji, MN completed his earthly journey December 10, 2024 and entered the presence of his Heavenly Father after battling many years of heart problems and most recently dementia.

Jerry was born on September 12th, 1940 to Emerson and Loretta Hannah in Bemidji, MN. After graduating from Bemidji High School in 1959, Jerry enlisted in the Air Force. He was stationed in Denver, CO and Thule, Greenland. Jerry returned to Bemidji in 1964 and started a career at the Post Office, working there until his retirement in 2004.

As a boy, Jerry called himself a “delinquent” who grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. He often said it was a miracle that he survived his youth. His days were filled with adventures around Bemidji like jumping log piles at the lumber mill, trying to be the first fisherman out on the fresh winter ice, and boating up the Mississippi to shoot snapping turtles with his .22 rifle.

He was passionate about the outdoors and scheduled his vacations around the three outdoorsman holidays: fishing opener, duck hunting opener, and deer hunting opener.

In 1982, Jerry met Mary Weiher at a Christian singles group. Their first date was going trap shooting. Mary didn’t know the first thing about shooting or the outdoors, but her willingness to try anything won Jerry’s heart and they were married on June 12th, 1988. Together, they shared many memories of hunting and fishing, but most importantly, through their marriage and the local church, God began growing them both into a closer walk with Jesus.

In 1997, Jerry attended Promise Keepers, a Christian men’s rally, in Minneapolis, MN with a group of Christian men from Bemidji. It was at this rally that Jerry rededicated his life to Jesus and it became a turning point in his life. He had begun to truly understand the forgiveness he had received through the saving work of Jesus. He said of the rally, “Promise Keepers made me a man of tears”.

Jerry was a social person who loved to talk with whomever he interacted with. Having lived his whole life in Bemidji, he couldn’t go shopping without running into someone he knew and chatting about the local happenings. He spent many mornings having coffee at Country Kitchen and was friends with all the staff and the regulars. After retiring, Jerry began volunteering at the hospital, delivering newspapers and water to patients, often stopping to chat and offer prayer. When he had the opportunity to minister to some of his old Bemidji classmates, they were usually surprised that Jerry was now “a praying man”. He was so grateful God gave him this ministry for the last leg of his journey.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, brother Gordon, and an infant sister. He is survived by his wife, Mary; sister, Shirley VanHouse; daughter from a previous marriage, Lisa Hannah; son from a previous relationship, Darren (Rachel) Breen; step-daughter Mandi (Scott) Buchan; step-son Eric (Becky) Peterson; step-children from a previous marriage, Lori, Terry, & Tom;  and ten grandchildren Lucy, Nathan, Sky Lily, Evy, Mac, EJ, Landyn, Georgia, Judah.

Services will be held at the Evangelical Free Church of Bemidji on Tuesday, December 17th at 2 p.m. with visitation 1 hour prior.

Memorial gifts can be designated to the foster care ministry at the Evangelical Free Church, Bemidji.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jerry Henry Hannah, please visit our floral store.