Jay Bertrand

Jay Bertrand age 52 of Sleepy Eye was called home to eternal rest after a courageous battle with cancer on July 15, 2015. Jay Thomas Bertrand was born on November 23, 1962 in New Ulm, MN to Thomas and Carolyn (Suess) Bertrand. Jay graduated from St. Mary's School, Sleepy Eye in 1981, before attending Willmar Area Vocational School for Auto Body. He opened an auto body shop on his family farm while continuing to farm with his dad, Tom. He married Tracy Lynn Guza, on July 28, 1990 where they resided on the Bertrand Family Farm. Jay valued his time spent with their children, Justin, Christopher and Brianna. Jay took pride in watching his children learn and grow. Throughout Jay's life, he was a man with great visions and determination. He loved being outdoors and working on the farm. A true farmer at heart, Jay enjoyed the good and the bad days of farming. His determination and hard work established the Bertrand Farm to what it is today. Even during times of ill health, he still pushed himself to work out in the field and to check the crops from day to day that he so proudly planted with determination this past Spring. Jay also took great pride in the cars that he worked his magic on reversing them from being of something old to becoming a vehicle that caught everyone's attention because of its beauty. Jay always looked forward to taking snowmobile trips with the boys or the family annual trip to Spider Lake each summer. Jay was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye, MN and was also a member of the Knight of Columbus. Jay had a humble spirit which defines him as a man of few words but ongoing visionary thoughts, a man of patience and good heart. Even though his life was cut short, Jay was living example of a man of dedication, who provided his family with cherished memories that will be treasured for lifetime. Jay will be deeply missed by all. Left to carry on his passions are his wife, Tracy and their three children, Justin of Sleepy Eye and special friend Katie Wurtzburger and her daughter Kinley, Christopher of Sleepy Eye and special friend Lizzie Rummel and Brianna of Sleepy Eye. He is also survived by his parents, Tom and Carolyn Bertrand of New Ulm, sisters Janelle Bertrand of Minneapolis and her daughter Nicole Youngquist of Newport Kentucky (and husband Aaron) along with his great-niece Ava and Jacque Behrens of Minneapolis and her children Tess and Tate. Mother-in-law, Beverly Guza of Sleepy Eye, sister-in-law Brenda Gluth (husband Greg) of Sleepy Eye and their children Travis of Springfield, (wife Kim) and children Parker and Hayden, Lance, Brady and the late Kristin Ann. Jay was preceded in death by his grandparents Fanchon and Joe Bertrand, Florian and Gertrude Suess, father-in-law, Anthony "Butch" Guza and niece, Kristin Gluth. Visitation 1 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm Sunday, July 19, 2015 Sturm Funeral Home, Sleepy Eye Chapel 301 - 3rd Ave. S.W. Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, United States 56085 Visitation 2 7:30 am - 10:00 am Monday, July 20, 2015 Sturm Funeral Home, Sleepy Eye Chapel 301 - 3rd Ave. S.W. Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, United States 56085 Service Information 10:30 am Monday, July 20, 2015 St. Mary's Catholic Church-Sleepy Eye 636 1st Ave. North Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, United States 56085 Interment Information St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery 720 3rd Ave. N.E. Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, United States 56085