Rockvam, Jerome P. "Jerry" of Spring Park, Minnesota passed away at the age of 85 after a short battle with cancer. A lifelong resident of the Lake Minnetonka area, Jerry served as a local political and business leader. He gained knowledge and experience in the boating business growing up at his family resort on Maxwell Bay, which included a restaurant and fleet of fishing boats. They also manufactured a fiberglass boat called the Darling. Jerry was a 1957 graduate of Orono High School where he was very involved in multiple sports, various clubs, and president of the student body. One of the things he was most proud of was being part of the team that won the 1956 Minnesota Valley Conference Football Championship. He was lifelong friends with the team and enjoyed the reunions they had throughout the years. Forty-five years after graduating, he received the Orono High School Distinguished Alumni Award. Upon graduation, Jerry started what would be his first Lake Minnetonka venture -- JP Rockvam Dock Enterprises. Soon after, in 1958 at ages 19 and 17, Jerry married his wife Joyce (requiring both of their parents' signatures). The young duo operated the business for the next two years until Jerry was called to duty by the U.S. Navy and they moved to Virginia Beach, Virginia in 1959. Jerry served in an attack squadron on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Forrestal. After completing his active military duty, Jerry and Joyce opened Rockvam Boat Yards, Inc. on March 1, 1961. The original repair shop had a dirt floor, no electricity, no furnace, nor any city sewer or water service. In 1966, they purchased a section of lakefront property where their home, Ship's Store, office and gas dock are now located. Over the decades that followed, the marina grew through the construction of four warehouses, purchasing adjoining properties, expanding and innovating customer services, increasing the number of docks, and adding machinery and forklifts. Locally, he was named the 2002 Westonka Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year. He also enjoyed being the president of the West Arm Town Home Association a post he held since the mid-90s. He served as president of the North Central Marine Association, founded and was President of the Minnesota Clean Marina Program and received the prestigious designation as a Certified Marina Manager. He was inducted into the North Central Marine Association Hall of Fame in 2007 for his innovation in introducing dry stack storage to the upper Midwest. And in 2017 Rockvam Boat Yards, Inc., received the honor of being named National Marina of the Year. Jerry began a lifelong love of public service in 1963 when he became a Justice of the Peace for the city of Spring Park located in the heart of Lake Minnetonka. After an unsuccessful bid for mayor (running unopposed but losing to a write-in campaign), he persevered and was elected to office in 1966 becoming the state of Minnesota's youngest mayor. Following his two-year term as mayor, he served as a councilman for a term and then was again elected mayor in 1974, a post he held for 34-years until 2008. He took a short break from public service then ran again and has served as Spring Park's mayor since 2016. During his tenure, the city experienced steady population growth alongside major improvements in infrastructure development to better serve the flourishing town. As a lakeshore community, it quickly became a premier tourist and recreation destination spurring the growth of resorts, restaurants, and entertainment venues in addition to an increase of local businesses and services. Jerry was dedicated to ensuring Spring Park would reflect the broader trends of suburban growth, diversification of the economy and investments in amenities and services to enhance the quality of life for all. This civic-minded approach extended to local fraternal organizations, including pride in his Norwegian heritage as a member of the Sons of Norway as well as membership in Masonic Lodge 320 in Mound. Jerry is survived by his wife of 65-years, Joyce, daughters Judith and Roxanne, grandchildren Justin and Jessica, many loving nephews and nieces, and countless friends. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, April 20th at Lord Fletcher's from noon to 4:00 PM.

Published on March 31, 2024