Jerome Lamb

Jerome Lamb Surrounded by family, songs and stories, Jerome Lamb died peacefully Friday in his Fargo home of 36 years, under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley. Jerome David Lamb was born March 23, 1930, to Johanna (Londergan) and James Lamb in Grand Forks, ND. He was raised in Grand Forks, Bismarck and Michigan, all ND, but always considered the latter home. Following St. James High in Grand Forks, he attended St. John?s University in Collegeville, MN. After graduation, he continued his education in the U.S. Army, where he learned not to like the customs of the army. After finishing his service, he traveled around Europe for a year, then returned to North Dakota, working as a teacher and a carpenter, applying his woodworking skills to a cabin he built with his brothers on Fox Lake, MN in 1958. While working at the Newman Center in Fargo, Jerry met Barbara Axness and after many attempts, convinced her to marry him. They wed September 12, 1964 and had five children. To support the family, Jerry took a job at the Fargo Public Library, where he worked until 1994. During his time as a reference librarian, he delighted in uncovering odd facts, sayings and colorful characters. Those sources fueled his work on the small Voice, a periodical he wrote, illustrated, designed, edited and published from 1977 to last December, when he felt the cancer he?d fought for more than seven years take his energy, but not his spirit. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; daughters Suzanne (Ed) Steinhauer, Julie, son Paul, all of St. Paul, MN, John of Fargo, and two grandsons, Henry and Frank Steinhauer. He is also survived by his brothers Jack (Louise) of Lockport, IL and Justin (Sachiko Momii) of Pine Plains, NY. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers James and Joseph, his sister Joanne and an infant son, William. In a eulogy for the writer Richard Critchfield, Jerry said, ?We are richer for having known him and poorer for his passing.? Those words are echoed by the family and friends of Jerome Lamb. There will be a visitation at St. Joseph?s Catholic Church, 202 10th Street S., Moorhead, Tuesday from 5 to 6:30 p.m. followed by a prayer service. A remembrance at the Rourke Art Museum, 521 Main Avenue, Moorhead, follows at 7:30. A funeral mass is scheduled for Wednesday at 11 a.m. at St. Francis de Sales, 601 15 Ave. N., Moorhead. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a local hospice chapter, a food pantry or the Salvation Army.