Funeral services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Friday, November 19th, at the First Presbyterian Church in Marshalltown. Visitation will be held Thursday from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the church. In lieu of flowers, Gerald requested memorials be directed to: Slater Area Historical Association, First Presbyterian Church of Marshalltown or Marshalltown Community Auditorium Foundation.

Gerald Duane was born at home in Slater, IA, on August 3, 1930, to William and Alma (Queensland) Schaudt. Gerald graduated from Slater High where he played baseball and basketball. He was a very proud member of the Slater Night Hawk Baseball team. Gerald was also a proud veteran, having been deployed by the Army to serve with the 68th AAA Gun Battalion in the Korean War from 1951 -1953. For a short time he was the owner of Bib’s Sandwich Shop on Main Street in Greater Slater. He attended Grandview College for one year, before transferring to, and graduating from, the Iowa Teachers College in Cedar Falls(now UNI). He coached and taught at Greenville-Rossie, Sac City, and the majority of his years were devoted to being a 7th & 8th Grade Science teacher at Marshalltown’s Anson Junior High. He also taught Driver’s Education for 35 years.

On August 17, 1955, Gerald married Eleaner Vespestad at the Little Brown Church of Nashua. They were married for 53 years before Eleaner’s passing in 2009, raising five children together. They went to an incredible amount of children and grandchildren events throughout their years together. Family Function Fanatics.

On May 15, 2010, he married Kathryn Twit Wilson. They enjoyed a fun nine years of companionship before she passed away October 13, 2019.

Gerald was a long-time member of the First Presbyterian Church serving on many committees, including as an Elder and Deacon. He very much enjoyed the Church’s Flapjacks Group! He also served as the sanctuary ceiling light bulb changer. He also enjoyed gardening flowers, growing and picking raspberries (w/ or w/out poison ivy). Raising Monarch Butterflies was a passion of his. Many a Bluebird house and Bluebird runs were assembled by Gerald. He received great joy in mailing out several hundred greeting cards each year to friends and relatives, each complete with a special poem. He was a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan and enjoyed watching all Hawkeye, Cyclone and UNI Panther sports.

Gerald is survived by his children: Wanda Sporrer (Kurt, Kim, Kevin), of Carroll, IA; Brenda (Greg) Kirsteatter, of Troy Grove, IL and their children: Jared (Hallie Konieczki) Kirsteatter of LaSalle, IL and Alissa (Ian) Ferguson, of Paulding, OH; Sonda (Wade) Kirsteatter, of Marion; Dane (Donna) Schaudt, of Pella, and their children: Kaitlyn, of Chicago, IL, Karissa, of Chicago, IL, Kollin, of Marshalltown, and Kara, of Ankeny; and Gary Schaudt, of Marshalltown. Four Great Grandchildren: Monroe Kirsteatter and Samuel, Henry & Brynn Ferguson. He is also survived by three stepdaughters, Lynn (Jim) Fritz, of Bellingham, WA; Diana Rosenberg, of West Des Moines, and Lisa Wilson (Todd Morgan), of West Des Moines. He is also survived by a sister, Janice Roxberg, of Des Moines; sister-in-law Lucy Schaudt, of Ankeny; Eleaner’s siblings Marilyn Dotts, of Indianola; Hubert (Peggy) Vespestad, of Farrar; Helen (Lenny) Ringgenberg, of Des Moines; Robert (Summer) Vespestad, of Slater. Many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by both spouses, his parents; parents-in-laws Nels & Ethel Vespestad; Brothers Bill Schaudt and King Schaudt: brother-in-laws Glenn Roxberg & Wayne Dotts; and sister-in-laws Fern Schaudt and Helen Schaudt. Also, son-in-law Jerry Sporrer, and a stepson David Wilson.

Soderstrum Funeral Home of Slater is assisting the family with arrangements.