Rev. Kerry Carson
Rev. Kerry Carson, 71, of Conrad, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at his residence. Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m., Friday, April 17, 2026, at First Presbyterian Church in Conrad. A visitation will be held the night before from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church. Interment will follow funeral services at the Conrad Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Growing Hope Globally or the First Presbyterian Church, both of Conrad. Arrangements have been entrusted to Anderson Funeral Homes of Conrad. Online condolences may be sent to www.andersonfhs.com.
Kerry William Carson, son of William “Bill” and Ethne (Okell) Carson, was born May 1, 1954, in Portland, OR. He attended school at John Adams High School in Portland and then received his Bachelor of Music Education from Central Washington State College in Ellensburg, WA, teaching for a while in the Portland Public Schools. He later returned to Central Washington University for his Master of Music Degree focusing on piano performance. He worked as a church musician and youth leader in various locations before attending Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY, for his Master of Divinity degree.
He accepted his first call at Buffalo Presbyterian Church in Buffalo, MN. There, he met his wife, Marijke Elrod, and they married on October 10, 1992, at the church. Two children were born to them, Leigh and Drew.
Kerry was a pastor at Buffalo Presbyterian Church for 10 years and then followed God’s call to First Presbyterian Church in Conrad, IA, where he served for 24 years before retiring in 2021. He continued to serve the church in retirement, filling pulpits, and remaining active in the Presbytery of North Central Iowa in various ways.
He was involved in many other ways in his communities. He was a member of Rotary International while in Buffalo, MN, served on the Board of Directors for Live On Stage Marshalltown, was the Drama Director and choir accompanist at BCLUW High School, participated in Buffalo Community Theater and Whistlestop Community Theater, served as a board member and volunteer with Conrad Chamber Main Street, helped lead the Promise Keepers Bible Study in Conrad and spent many years leading, helping and championing Church Camps from Washington state to Indiana. He also enjoyed several years as a member of Card Club with local Conrad friends.
He is survived by his wife, Marijke, daughter, Leigh, and son, Drew, all of Conrad. Also, his sister and brother-in-law, Kaylynn and Dan Mills of Auckland, New Zealand; his nephew Nathan (Rachel) Mills, and nieces Julie (Jordan) Morris, Emily (Jono) Lange and Laurie Mills and their families all of New Zealand. He is also survived by other extended family and loving in-laws from Marijke’s family. He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.