Laurie D Gerdes, age 76, of Mankato, died on January 15, 2026. Memorial services will be held at Epiphany Lutheran Church in Eagle Lake on Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at 2:00 pm, with a visitation starting one hour prior. Interment will be at Fort Snelling Cemetery at a later date.

Laurie was born December 17, 1949, to Donald and Margaret (Froning) Gerdes in Ipswich, South Dakota. He graduated from Cresbard High School in 1968 where he excelled in all sports and then enlisted in the Navy for six years. While in the Navy, he served three years as a sonar technician aboard the John C Calhoun submarine. He married Kathleen Petersen on July 31, 1971. After being discharged from the Navy, he attended South Dakota State University and worked at several different jobs. In 1987 he became a deputy with Edmunds County Sheriff’s Office and began an 18-year career in law enforcement. He served as Sheriff of Edmunds County for 7 years. While in law enforcement, he also served on the Ipswich Ambulance Service and the Ipswich Volunteer Fire Department. He was a life-long member of the Ipswich American Legion. While in Ipswich, he belonged to the Lions Club and received the Ipswich Betterment Award. Upon retirement from law enforcement, he worked in maintenance and transfer services at Sioux Center Avera in Sioux Center, Iowa and at Bethesda Nursing Home in Aberdeen, South Dakota. While at Bethesda, he was chosen as Employee of the Year. In Mankato he worked in Security at Menards. Laurie belonged to Epiphany Lutheran Church.

Laurie was a diehard Minnesota Vikings fan since 1961 and every year said maybe this was the year. He was a collector of pens and never let a pen go by without putting it in his pocket to go home. He loved his grandchildren and was affectionately named PopPop. Laurie was outgoing with a quick wit.

Laurie is survived by his wife, Kathy, and their children, Douglas (Kim) of Mankato, MN, and Jodi of Newport, MN; two grandchildren, Peighton (Doug) and Benjamin (Jodi); brothers James (Rosalie) and William (Jodi) and sister, Marilyn (Doyle).

He was preceded in death by his father, mother, and sister.