GERALD "JERRY" R. HJORNEVIK

Gerald “Jerry” Ronald Hjornevik, 87, of Taylor, died Monday, August 31, 2026, in the Black River Memorial Hospital in Black River Falls.

Gerald was born Sept. 13, 1938, in Hixton to Helge Helgeson and Eunice Leola (Hanson) Hjornevik. He married Elizabeth “Liz” Lunde June 29, 1968, in Niles, IL. Liz preceded Jerry in death Sept. 24, 2017.

Jerry graduated from Taylor High School in 1957 and then attended La Crosse Vocational School, graduating from the Printing and Publishing program. He worked as a printer in Chicago, IL, and West Salem.  In 1972, Jerry and Liz purchased The Blair Press, which they owned and operated for 27 years until their retirement in 1999.

At age 13, Jerry contracted the polio virus and faced many polio-related challenges during his lifetime. Throughout his life, Jerry enjoyed camping with friends and family and was an active member of the Blair Ridgerunners snowmobile club. He served as a member of the Taylor Village Board and was an active member of the Taylor Lions Club. In the early 1990s, Jerry and Liz were lucky enough to take a trip to Norway, where they visited Jerry’s family members and the original Hjornevik homestead.

Jerry was a huge fan of the Chicago Bears, proudly flying his flag for everyone to see, and was always open for a Bears vs. Packers discussion with anyone who would entertain it. He liked to tell people that his two favorite football teams were the Bears and anyone who beats the Packers. Jerry also loved his classic country music and became a big fan of the Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark in recent years.

Gerald is survived by his daughter, Kirsten Nelson; stepdaughter, Beverly (Roger) Nelson; one grandson, Nels Nelson; two stepgrandchildren; two stepgreat- grandchildren; two brothers, Ken (Jeanne Buhr) Hjornevik and Merle (Pam) Hjornevik; two sisters, Ardella Peterson and Susan Waldera and two sisters-in-law, Joyce Hjornevik and Mary (Eugene) Berg.

In addition to his parents and wife, Gerald was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Charles Nelson; two brothers, Helge Hjornevik and Danny Hjornevik; one sister, Beatrice Hjornevik; three brothers-in-law, Pliny Peterson, Lynus Waldera and David Lunde; and two sisters-in-law, Loretta Hjornevik and Darlene Lunde.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, at 1 p.m. in the Taylor Lutheran Chuch in Taylor. Kathy Boe, SAM, officiated. Burial was in the Northfield Lutheran Cemetery in Northfield.

Visitation was held Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, from 110 a.m. until the time of service at the church.

The Jack Funeral Home in Blair assisted the family with arrangements.