JERRELL, John Henry & Betty Louise (Trojak)

JERRELL, BUCKMAN, TUMA, TROJAK

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 7/15/2010 at 16:21:43

John Henry Jerrell

Betty Louise Jerrell

NORA SPRINGS, IOWA - John Henry Jerrell, 82, of Tonopah, Nevada, died March 29, 2001. Betty Louise Jerrell, 93, of Tonopah, Nevada, died Sept. 16, 2008. John and Betty both died of cancer.

Inurnment of their urns will be in a common graveside service at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 17, at Park Cemetery, Nora Springs, with the Rev. Kenneth B. Gehling officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the graveside service at Sheckler Colonial Chapel, 114 N. Hawkeye, Nora Springs.

John was born March 10, 1919, in Carmen, Idaho, to Thomas A. and Louise (Buckman) Jerrell. John was the oldest of four children. John's brothers are also deceased, Thomas (Sue) Jerrell of Lady Lake, Florida, and Phillip (Marge) Jerrell of Mason City. John is survived by his sister, Nadine (Don) Harmon, of Marshalltown.

Betty was born May 26, 1915, in Cokeburg, Pennsylvania, to Louis and Louise (Tuma) Trojak. Betty is survived by her sister, Ann (Emile) Robillard, of Kenosha, Wis., and her brother, Edward (Therese) Trojak, of Phillips, Wis. Betty also has two brothers who are deceased, Jerry Trojak of Phillips, Wisconsin, and Joseph Trojak who was killed in Europe during World War II.

John entered the Army in 1942 and served in Europe during World War II. He received the Victory Ribbon, American Theater Ribbon, European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with two Bronze Stars, a Good Conduct Medal, and two Overseas Bars. While in the Army, John became friends with Betty's brother, Ed, who introduced John to Betty after the war.

Betty worked briefly as a nanny. She and her sister Ann operated a restaurant for several years in Kenosha, Wisconsin. During World War II, Betty was employed at Coopers Garment Factory.

John and Betty were married on January 25, 1947, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and moved to Nora Springs where they farmed until retiring in 1993. After selling the farm, John and Betty moved to Tonopah, Nevada.

Throughout their lives, John and Betty were avid bowlers. They both were members of the 600 club. There were so many bowling trophies in their home that you couldn't start to count them. They enjoyed old time music and attended many dances with their friends at the Barn in Mason City and the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake. They also enjoyed summer Polka festivals in New Ulm, Minn., and gambling trips to Las Vegas. John and Betty were active members of the Rockford Catholic Church in Rockford and then St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Tonopah.

John raised grain crops and hay on their farm and received many accolades for his wonderful sheep herd. He also worked with many of their neighbors, helping them with their crops. John was a long-time member of the American Legion Post 0449 and received recognition as a member of 50 years in good standing. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and the American Legion.

Betty kept two large gardens on the farm, raising sweet corn, vegetables, berries, fruits and horseradish. She was always busy canning and freezing the produce which she often shared with neighbors and friends. She was well known for her delicious baked goods.

John and Betty have four children: Joseph, El Cerrito, California, Michael, Tonopah, Nevada, Judith (Tom) Bowers, Alma, Colo., and Susan (Russ) Hutchins, Maple Grove, Minnesota. They also have two grandchildren, Jared (Jaime) Hutchins, Franklin, Ohio, and Jessica (Todd) Reynolds, Waukesha, Wisconsin. And they have two great-grand children, Logan and Samantha Hutchins. John and Betty are also survived by many nieces and nephews.

A gathering of family and friends to celebrate the life of John and Betty will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 17, at Shecklers Funeral Home, 114 N. Hawkeye Ave., Nora Springs. This will be followed by graveside services at 11:30 a.m. at the Park Cemetery, Nora Springs, with Father Gehling presiding. A lunch for all family and friends will follow at the Nora Inn.

Special thanks from the family go out to Gunters' Funeral Home in Hawthorne, Nevada and Sheckler Colonial Chapels in Nora Springs. Sheckler Colonial Chapel, 641-749-2210. www.colonialchapels.com

[ Published in the Mason City Globe Gazette online, July 15, 2010 -- www.globegazette.com ]