Jeffrey Lloyd Wertanen, 58

Jeffrey Lloyd Wertanen, 58, a long-time resident of Apple Valley, passed away on Monday, January 7th, 2013, after battling liver cancer.

Jeffrey was born at the U.S. Air Force Hospital in Fairfield, WA, on October 12, 1954, the son of Lloyd H. Wertanen and Doris A (Symons) Wertanen.

He grew up in Ironwood, Michigan, and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1972. He then attended Gogebic Community College for 2 years. He was then married to Susan N. (Palomaki), in November 12th, 1977, in Ironwood, before they both relocated to the Twin Cities, in 1978, where they raised their two children, and where Jeffrey began his career working for the I.T. Department of the U.S. Postal Service in 1979, until his retirement in 2010.

Jeffrey loved his family and friends, his ghost hunting programs and had a huge passion for his two Corvettes, winning many awards for both at local car shows. Along with his wife, Jeffrey enjoyed his time as a member of the Classic Corvettes of Minnesota Club, contributing to the Club newsletter, both as an editor and Membership director in the past several years. Jeffrey was also a stockholder of his beloved Green Bay Packers and spent many years as a member of the local Apple Valley Lions. Since last summer, he has also been bonding with the new family puppy, a pure-bred lab named Roscoe.

His is survived by his wife, Susan (Palomaki) Wertanen, Apple Valley; his son, Neal Wertanen, Apple Valley; his daughter, Cassandra Wertanen, Burnsville; and his sister, Beth Wertanen, Cottage Grove. Jeffrey was preceded in death by his father, Lloyd H. Wertanen, on June 25th, 2012 and his mother, Doris A. (Symons) Wertanen, on April 3rd, 1975.

Funeral Service 2PM Friday, January 11, 2013 at White Funeral Home 14560 Pennock Ave. Visitation one hour prior to service. In lieu of flowers memorials preferred.