Gerald Hugger

Gerald “Jerry” Hugger, age 77 of Santa Clarita, CA passed away on Monday, Oct. 7, 2019 at the Olive View Medical Center – UCLA in Sylmar, CA.

On August 8, 1942 a son was born to Avin ‘Phil’ and Florence Margaret (Lammi) Hugger in Hibbing, MN.  Gerald Avin was the second of six children.  After graduating from Toivola-Meadowlands High School in 1960, Jerry went to Hibbing Jr. College and then to the University of MN in Duluth, earning a degree in Elementary Education.

In 1964, after graduating from U of M, Duluth he moved to Orange County, CA to begin his career in Education with the Huntington Beach School District.  He received his Master’s Degree in School Administration from California State University in Fullerton, CA.  It was during this time that he met the love of his life and future wife, Carolyn Zoe Hansen, previously of Osakis, MN.  On June 24, 1972 he and Carolyn were married.  Soon the newlyweds moved to Wasco, CA where Jerry was hired as the principal at the John L. Prueitt Elementary School.  In November 1974, a daughter Kathryn Zoe was born.  Jerry accepted an administrative position with the Saugus Union School District as a principal at six different schools during his twenty-eight year tenure.  In the summer of 1977, the family moved to Valencia, CA where a son, Jonathan Gerald, was born in late July of 1977.

In 2004, only two days before his retirement date, Jerry had a debilitating accident.  He worked hard in rehabilitation so that he could enjoy his retirement.  Unfortunately, he never made a full recovery and moved into an assisted living facility in 2009 where he lived until his death.

Jerry was a member and former president of the Santa Clarita Administrators Association, a member of the California Teachers Association and the National Association.  He was a member of the Elks Club in Alexandria, MN.

He had many interests and hobbies, including traveling the United States in the family motor home visiting every state west of the Mississippi River and several others east.  He enjoyed supporting the local high school and attending swim meets, soccer, baseball, football and basketball games, and coming make to Minnesota to visit families every summer and Christmas.

Jerry will live in the hearts of his children, Kathryn (Matt) Lasick of Saugus, CA of Saugus, CA and Jonathan (Lorrel) Hugger of Mount Pleasant, S. Carolina; 7 grandchildren, Charley, Vanny and Brody Lasick, Caden, Talan, Jaxon and Ashlyn Hugger; brothers, Howard (Val Jean) Hugger of Oregon City, OR and Roger (Judy) Hugger of Burnsville, MN; sisters, Patricia Hays of Orange Co, CA and Kathy (Bruce) Kennebeck of Inver Grove Heights.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Carolyn in 1996, an infant son, Peter Hugger and a sister, Susan Hugger.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 19, 2019 at 11:00 am at the Roy-Hetland Funeral Home in Osakis, MN with Rev. Rud Wasson officiating.  Interment is at the Lakeside Cemetery in Osakis, MN with honorary casket bearers being his grandchildren, Charley, Vanny and Brody Lasick, Caden Talan, Jaxon and Ashlyn Hugger.  Active casket bearers are Adam Hugger, Bret Hugger, Bruce Kennebeck, Matthew Kennebeck, Mike Hansen and Greg Bennett

Arrangements by the Roy-Hetland Funeral Home, Osakis, MN