Jerry Markkula II

Jerry Roland Markkula II

Jerry, also known as Jr. was born on May 3, 1969 to Jerry and Shirley Markkula in Minneapolis, MN.  The fourth child of the family.  With the Lord in his heart, he was called home on May 20, 2024 at home in his sleep.  At an early age he began a lifelong love of speed.  Race cars, dirt bikes, snowmobiles, trucks, jet skis, anything that went fast.  Following in his dad’s footsteps he began his career installing flooring early on.  He worked with his dad in Minnesota and began to pursue his dream of racing.  He spent some time racing at Brainerd International Raceway but the desire for warmer weather and a longer racing season he sought somewhere warmer to live.  He took a trip to Tennessee and found a home in Gallatin and has called this home for the last twenty years.   He absolutely loved where he lived, warm weather, great neighbors and his “lawn crew” the deer that he thoroughly enjoyed watching in his backyard.   He built a drag race car and found a track to do some test runs and saw that there was a race coming up in Missouri.  He entered the race unsponsored and won first place.  First time in history that an unsponsored car won the race.  Proud and full of zest for the sport, he entered many smaller and larger races.  Racing truly was his passion.  He was a dedicated fan of NASCAR.  Once settled in he started up his own flooring business, Newton Floors in Gallatin, TN.   He installed many beautiful customized hard wood floors and some tile work; he took great pride in all his work.  Customers have said he did “gorgeous work”.   Working so close to Nashville he was fortunate to have done jobs for some of the country singers.

A thankful and grateful person, he always had something positive to say.  He will be dearly missed by many, his Mom Shirley Markkula, Sisters Terri (Duane) Patnode, Lori (Gary) Thompson & Cindy (Morris) Benson.  Nephews Derek (Kari) Patnode, Darin (Kristen) Patnode, Kyle Thompson & Brody (Ariana Torrise) Benson.  Great nephews Milo Patnode, Kayden Thompson, Zepherin Patnode and Cameron Patnode.  Many other relatives, a host of friends and friends who became family over the years, including close friend Josh Bailey.

Preceding him in death, his father Jerry Roland Markkula in 2023 and his beloved dog Carbon.

Funeral mass will be held on Monday, June 17 at 11:00 am at St. Hubert's Catholic Church in Bluegrass, MN.   Visitation will be 10:00 am –11am on the day of the service.

Following the service there will be lunch at the church.  After lunch he will be laid to rest amongst family at the Meadow Apostolic Lutheran Cemetery in Meadow Township

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

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