Gerald Udstuen
April 4, 1927 ~ August 5, 2014
Resided in:
Hendersonville, NC
Rev. Gerald Gwinn Udstuen
Gerald "Gerry" Udstuen, 87, a recent resident of Hendersonville, N.C, entered his heavenly home from the Elizabeth House, Flat Rock, NC on August 5, 2014.
He was born in Chicago, IL on April 4, l927 to Joseph and Hazel Gwinn Udstuen. He graduated from Carl Schurz High School and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from the University of Illinois in 1951. His business career took him to Atlanta, GA where he met and married Elaine Boatwright of Douglas GA, then to Birmingham, AL and later to Boston, MA. After 16 years in business he sensed the Lord leading him to enter Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, Wenham, MA where he received his Masters of Divinity degree in 1970. He served Presbyterian Churches in St. Louis, MO, Eden Prairie, MN and in the Atlanta, GA area. He found great fulfillment and many blessings in his walk with the Lord, in serving Him and in fellowship with others on the journey.
His great joy was his family: his devoted wife Elaine, his two loving daughters and their husbands, Kelly and Dave Largent, Amy and Will Sharp and his delightful grandsons, Joshua, Jacob and Taylor Sharp and Jeffrey Largent and his wife, Colleen.
After he retired, he and Elaine spent 12 years in Morganton, NC near Amy, Will and the boys where he was affiliated with the First Presbyterian Church of Morganton. He was involved in choir, Bible study groups and outreach ministries in the community. He was preceded in death by Amy's death on December 14, 2010. He and Elaine moved to Hendersonville in 2013 to be near Kelly and Dave of Mills River, NC. He was affiliated with First Presbyterian Church of Hendersonville this past year.
A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church, 100 Silver Creek Rd., Morganton, NC on August 23, 2014 at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, with visitation and light refreshments following the service.
Memorials may be made in Gerry's memory to: First Presbyterian Church, 100 Silver Creek Rd, Morganton, NC 28655; First Presbyterian Church, 699 North Grove St., Hendersonville, NC 28792 or Four Seasons/Elizabeth House, 571 South Allen Rd., Flat Rock, NC 27631.
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Our deepest condolences to the Udstuen family and all the family members and friends the Udstuen’s made around the country and especially here in the Morganton area. Gerry was truly the ‘well done good and faithful servant’ man who served as one of my main role models. We had such good, soul searching conversations, through the years. God blessed me with a man of good character, integrity and humility. I am forever grateful for that and I know I am a much better man because of Gerry at my side.
My deepest condolences to the family of Mr.Udstuen. May you find comfort in God’s promise of resurrection in the near future (Acts 24:15).
Gerry was a special friend as brother pastor from his Eden Prarie days, with Elaine a brother in a small group. and an inspiration on the handball and tennis courts. Prayers for Elaine and anticipated reunion in that Grand Day
I worked with Gerry at Eden Prairie Presbyterian in the 1980’s. He was a compassionate and dedicated pastor. My condolences to Elaine and the family
I worked with Gerry at Eden Prairie Presbyterian in the 1980’s. He was a compassionate and dedicated pastor. My condolences to Elaine and the family
We met Gerry and Elaine for the first and only time face to face in Central Park, New York City on May 14, 2010. We fellowshipped, joyfully, in the Lord Jesus that day, and heard Gerry sing for the first time (I would gladly hear his voice in song again on numerous occasions, by phone – ‘Glen, I have a hymn I love and have been working on…’).
Even as I rejoice in Gerry’s heavenly homegoing, Elaine’s call today to inform me made me weep. I will miss the phone calls, and the phone hymns, and I will remember Gerry’s parting words in Central Park on that day we met: ‘Well, we probably won’t see each other down here again, but we will up there.’ I so look forward to that, Gerry, my dear friend and brother, and I rejoice in the times of fellowship God gave to us here. May the Lord bless you, Elaine.
We met Gerry and Elaine for the first and only time face to face in Central Park, New York City on May 14, 2010. We fellowshipped, joyfully, in the Lord Jesus that day, and heard Gerry sing for the first time (I would gladly hear his voice in song again on numerous occasions, by phone – ‘Glen, I have a hymn I love and have been working on…’).
Even as I rejoice in Gerry’s heavenly homegoing, Elaine’s call today to inform me made me weep. I will miss the phone calls, and the phone hymns, and I will remember Gerry’s parting words in Central Park on that day we met: ‘Well, we probably won’t see each other down here again, but we will up there.’ I so look forward to that, Gerry, my dear friend and brother, and I rejoice in the times of fellowship God gave to us here. May the Lord bless you, Elaine.