Gerald "Jerry" Piehl

Gerald "Jerry" Leon Piehl, age 81 of Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, died on February 11, 2026, at Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, surrounded by his family.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at Sturm Funeral Home in Sleepy Eye. Visitation will continue on Friday from 8:00 am until 10:30 am at Sturm Funeral Home. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye on Friday, February 27, 2026, at 11:00 am. Interment will be at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery. Military Honors will be provided by Sleepy Eye Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Sleepy Eye Honor Guard, St. Mary's High School Science Dept. and Divine Providence. Arrangements are with Sturm Funeral Home in Sleepy Eye.

Jerry Piehl, the son of Joe and Rose (Baar) Piehl, was born on February 28, 1944, in Sleepy Eye, MN. He graduated from Sleepy Eye St. Mary's with one-year post-secondary education for business and was a lifelong member of St. Mary's Parish where his Catholic faith was an important part of who he was. Jerry married Robin Turbes in May of 1984.

Jerry was very proud of his time in the military. He received four Purple Hearts, two Silver Star, the Bronze Star, Combat Infantry Badge, and two Air Medals during his time as a Staff Sargeant in the U.S. Army first Calvary Division while serving his country in the Vietnam War.

Jerry held many jobs after high school, however, his pride and joy for many years was taking over Piehl's Produce after the passing of his father. You could go there for a bag of feed and a dozen eggs and end up drinking coffee, watching the goldfish swim and shooting the s**t with him for hours. Jerry volunteered for many years with the Boy Scouts and had 55 years of service with the American Legion Post 7. He also manned the Del Monte corn stand where he spent hours talking with the community and genuinely enjoyed seeing his friends. Jerry started the Avenue of Flags at Home Cemetery in 1984 and continued this honor with his son Sam in later years. Jerry gave speeches at the local schools about his time in Vietnam and participated in all Sleepy Eye Honor Guard activities. During the summer parades, Jerry was always present in his cherry red Convertible hauling around the Dairy Princesses. He loved his hunting trips, vacation trips to South Dakota with his nieces and nephews, and blueberry picking at Aunt Anne's cabin in Ely, MN.

The past few years, Jerry enjoyed the time he spent tootling around town with his special dog 'kids' in the seat next to him on his daily coffee route to hear the latest gossip from his buddies. He was often found feeding the pheasants at Sportsman Park, behind Divine Providence and St. Mary's Cemetery with donated corn given to him from the community. His tell-tale 'honk' could be heard from outside any local business to get you to come out and say 'hello' or wait on him hand and foot. Most notably, Jerry was well known as 'What a deal, Jerry Piehl' from Piehl's Produce and he loved giving nicknames to nearly every person he met. Most famously was his wife, the war lord. If he didn't know you personally, to him, you were either 'George' or 'Gertie.' Jerry was heavily involved with his children and family. He loved watching football games, hockey games, horse shows, bird and poultry shows (perhaps just for the food) and overall 'checking in.' He enjoyed spending time with his three grandchildren, seeing them laugh, smile, play and talk about the new things they may have recently learned.

Jerry always gave advice with his famous 'one-liners.' His voice carrying over others, "the Jerry way." We can all hear him now, saying "you can only do the best you can, with the tools you got!"

Jerry is survived by his wife, Robin; daughters, Amy and Katie; sons, Joe (Celsie) and Sam; his three grandchildren, Kaylie, Noah and Lincoln; two sisters, Barbara Roetzler and Kathy Grausam; special godchild, Krissy Psyck; as well as many nieces and nephews; and his dear friends, Ed and Roxanne Ecker.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Rose Piehl; sister, Fran Blank; brothers-in-law, Dick Blank, Frank Roetzler and Mike Grausam; infant sister; many uncles and aunts; and in-laws, Bill and Lettie Turbes.