He was born Jerry Alvin Bryant on October 18th, 1955, to Merlin and Beverly Bryant of Lostwood North Dakota. He passed away on June 19, 2021. He is survived in death by his sons Randy and Jerry Jr. three grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. He is also survived by 7 siblings, Tim Bryant and his wife Gail, Bill Bryant and his wife Lori, Linda Fennema and her husband Jon, Cheryl Alkire and her husband Kent, Kevin Bryant and his wife Darla, Larry Bryant and his wife Kathy, and Jeff Bryant and his wife Sandy. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles and friends.
While growing up in rural North Dakota, Jerry enjoyed participating in outdoor activities, and viewed himself an accomplished hunter, trapper, and fisherman. He considered his younger brothers to be his apprentices.
He was raised as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and eventually dedicated his life to his God Jehovah, symbolizing that dedication by water baptism on December 25, 1971.
He moved to Wisconsin in 1973, where he pioneered for a short time, and met and married Sue Kuhn in 1974. While married to Sue, he was injured while working and suffered an accidental overdose of pain medication, which resulted in an extended hospital stay and likely affected his cognitive ability for the remainder of his life. During his marriage to Sue, he also fathered a son, Jerry Jr. who was born in March of 1978.
Shortly after Jerry Jr.’s birth, Jerry left Wisconsin and moved to Portland Oregon, where he made the decision to no longer serve as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and later joined the United States Navy. After leaving the Navy, he married his second wife, Josephina, who he remained married to for a short time before they were divorced. He eventually met and married his third wife, Florida, who he remained married to until she passed away. He adopted her son Randy, and treated him as one of his own.
As Jerry got older, his health progressively deteriorated, and he endured many serious health issues. As time went by, he reflected on his relationship with his family and his God Jehovah, and decided to take steps to improve the situation. He contacted the Witnesses in Portland Oregon, and after demonstrating a genuine desire to return to Jehovah, was reinstated in July 2015.
After being reinstated as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, he enjoyed spending as much time as he was able to with his family, visiting with them at mini family reunions in North Dakota during deer hunting season, and also traveling to Wisconsin to share in a family gathering there. He also regularly communicated with his siblings by telephone and zoom meetings. He shared in the field ministry to the extent that he was physically able to do so.
While we lament the time that Jerry was alienated from us and his God Jehovah, we his family are overjoyed that while late in life he took the necessary steps to return as one of Jehovah’s servants, and are very grateful to our brothers and sisters in Oregon who patiently helped him to do so. Words cannot adequately express our appreciation for their spiritual and physical assistance to Jerry. We would also like to thank his good friend Phina for her ongoing assistance and care. We enjoyed having our brother back in the family, and look forward to seeing him in the resurrection, when he will reach perfection with us, and we will all be able to serve Jehovah together for all eternity in his paradise new world.
Zoom Information for the Memorial: July 4, 2021, 4:00 P.M. C.S.T.
Meeting ID: 654-631-616
Passcode: matt2820