Jerry was born in Mason City, Iowa, and lived there with his family until they moved to Marshalltown and Jerry was left with his grandparents. He talked about riding the train between Mason City and Marshalltown to visit and moved to Marshalltown when he was in Junior High School at Aaron Palmer. He attended high school at what is now Miller Junior High School until he joined the United States Army and served his country for six years, 17 months in Germany, 2 yrs. active reserve and 2 yrs. reserve, receiving his honorable discharge in October, 1962. Shortly after returning from Germany, Jerry met the love of his life, Marilyn Ceaser and they were married on March 5, 1960, at the Little Brown Church, Nashua, Iowa. Jerry and Marilyn spent the next 50 years living in Marshalltown and raising their family, before moving to Woodbury, MN in 2008. Brenda Petrik and Bekki Tovar and their families all live in Woodbury, Bruce now lives just across the border in Wisconsin.

Jerry spent over 30 years working for Fisher Governor/Fisher Controls in Marshalltown, most of those years were spent at the Center Street plant in the stockroom area. Jerry spent many early years playing slo-pitch and bowling with the Fisher Classic League and later changed to playing golf. Jerry loved golf and played all over Iowa, in Colorado, California, on Catalina Island and even played Pebble Beach. Jerry loved camping when his kids were young and instilled the love of fishing and hunting in his son. He loved to travel and had traveled to nearly every state, including Hawaii, as well as Canada and Mexico. Jerry belonged to the Moose Lodge and enjoyed dancing and tending bar there, and also was privileged to be able to spend winters in AZ for many years. Jerry also loved Christmas and was always concerned that all of his kids and grandkids were receiving “enough”! After retiring from Fisher, Jerry had several part time jobs to keep busy, one of which was working at Estel-Perrin with Marty Mitchell and becoming good friends.

Jerry will be cremated by choice and suggests if anyone is interested to donate in his memory that they donate to their favorite charity or to the American Legion Golf Course as Jerry loved to play golf.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Marilyn, his son Bruce, his daughters, Brenda Petrik and Bekki Tovar (Dave Tovar). He is also survived by his four wonderful grandchildren: Jerrad Petrik, Drew Tovar, Kyle Tovar and Reese Tovar, as well as several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Larry, Robert and Lance and three sisters, Peggy Baker, Phyllis Rickett and Evelyn Groves, and an infant grandson, Jacob Carl Tovar in 2000.

Lovingly written by Jerry’s family…