Jerry was born on January 21, 1932, in Fargo, ND, to Thomas and Anna (Roesch) Bolger. He attended St. Joseph's Catholic Elementary School in Moorhead and graduated from Moorhead High School in 1950. Jerry served in the Army in Korea with the National Guard for two years. Following his service he attended Creighton University and later graduated from St. John's University at Collegeville, MN. He married Suzanne Schmitt on October 25, 1958. They lived in Moorhead where he owned and operated the Standard Oil Station on the south side of town for two years. In 1960 Jerry began a long career with Gould National Battery as an account executive. In retirement Jerry and Sue spent summers at their log home on Bad Medicine Lake, and wintered for 17 years at their home in Sun City West, Arizona.

He is survived by his wife, Suzanne Bolger, Moorhead; two daughters, Theresa (Brian) Gubrud, and Cynthia (Boyd) Kelsey, both of Litchfield, MN; two brothers, Tom (Mae) Bolger, Coronado Island, San Diego, CA, and Lowell (Priscilla) Bolger, Moorhead; a sister, Patricia (Edwin) Hieb, Fargo, ND; four grandchildren, Christian Kelsey, Samantha Bolger, John Gubrud and Dan Gubrud. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Eugene.
Jerry was an avid woodworker, golfer, and fisherman.