Jerry Handlos, a resident of Burlington, WA passed away at Virginia Mason Hospital on February 20, 2022, after a courageously fought battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born in White Bear Lake, Minnesota on May 10, 1939, the son of Kenneth and Adeline Handlos. He grew up on a farm in Stillwater, MN, working hard throwing haybales or driving a tractor. That never left him as he loved being on his tractor at his home in Burlington. In June of 1956, at the age of 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was deployed on two tours of duty aboard the USS Ticonderoga aircraft carrier as an aviation structural mechanic (hydraulics) and plane captain on A3D (fighter) planes flying off and on the carrier. He spent time in the Philippines, San Diego, Hawaii and Whidbey Island. He was honorably discharged in May 1960. It was while he was stationed at Whidbey Island that he met his wife Linda Skogmo of Burlington. They were married 61 years last October 22, 2021. In July 1960, his father-in-law, Roy Skogmo, was instrumental in helping him purchase a Carnation Milk and Ice Cream Distributorship. He started with one small truck delivering house to house and a few small wholesale accounts. He always enjoyed the competition and as everyone knows, he loved to talk, and that helped him sell a lot of milk! He gradually built it up over the years and became strictly wholesale, serving grocery stores, hospitals, schools and nursing homes. In October 2013, after 53 years in business, he sold his business to Dairy Valley Distributing. His two daughters, Michelle Stransky and Melinda Lomsdalen, started working in his office at the age of 17 and continued working there after his retirement. Jerry really enjoyed his retirement. He loved being in his shop building things or spending time with his grandsons while they worked on their pick-ups. He could fix anything and we all said it was "Jerry-rigged." In the early years, of his business, he did all of his own maintenance on his milk trucks, sometimes working late at night to get the truck ready for the route in the early morning. Jerry enjoyed hunting, trapshooting, being a member at the Skagit Golf and Country Club and most of all gardening with Linda. He loved camping, when Michelle and Melinda were kids, yearly camping trips with his grandchildren and later enjoyed traveling in his motorhome with Linda. His family and home were always very important to him and he always loved the holidays. He loved people and made many friends over the years, having always enjoyed meeting every morning for coffee, with his longtime friends from the valley and golfing on Wednesdays at the Club.

He is survived by his wife, Linda, daughters, Michelle (Jim) Stransky, Melinda (Kelly) Lomsdalen, grandchildren, Sean (Lexi) Stransky, Kaitlyn (Zach) Bonnett, Brandon Stransky, Justin (Jessica) Heichel, great-grandchildren, Owen Stransky, Emrie Bonnett, baby Heichel due August 2022, brother Mike Handlos of St. Paul, MN, sister-in-law, Bunny Kutzer and brother-in-laws, Steve Skogmo and Jon Skogmo, a special cousin, Caroline Zelinski of WI and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his newly found daughter, Shelly (Jeff) Langness and her two children Preston and Alyssa. He was thrilled to have gotten to meet and get to know her a few months before he passed away. Upon learning of baby Heichel, while in the hospital, he said "What a happy day! Oh man that makes me happy to hear that!"

He was proceeded in death by his parents Kenneth and Adeline Handlos of WI, in-laws, Roy and Doris Skogmo, his daughter, Baby Handlos in 1963, and his son-in-law, Bob Heichel.

He will be deeply missed and we are thankful for all of our precious memories that we will hold forever in our hearts

A memorial will be held at the Skagit Golf and Country Club on Sunday, March 20, 2022 at 1:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family would ask that memorials be made to Virginia Mason Franciscan Hospital, c/o Pancreatic Cancer Research in memory of Gerald Handlos, P.O. Box 1502, Tacoma, WA 98401, Hospice of the Northwest, 227 Freeway Drive, Suite A, Mount Vernon, WA 98273 and the Burlington Lutheran Church, 134 E. Victoria Ave., Burlington, WA 98233.