Hayden, Geraldine 'Jerry' (1930-2019)

HAYDEN, JENSEN, BECKER, SIP, WINKLER, LEWIS, LAMPRECHT, HAYS, ANDERSON, HILL

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 12/12/2020 at 10:52:00

Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, Iowa, April 1, 2019/Reichmuth Funeral Home, Elkhorn, Nebraska website

Geraldine J. “Jerry” (Jensen) Hayden was born April 23, 1930 in Duncombe, Iowa to Howard and Thelma (Snell) Jensen. She grew up in Webster City, Iowa, where she attended school, graduating from Webster City High School in 1947. As the second oldest girl in her family, much of her time was dedicated to helping with her younger siblings, but when able, she enjoyed playing softball.

Jerry married Richard “Dick” Hayden on August 20, 1950 at First Lutheran Church in Webster City, and to this union, four children were born; Janice, Robert, Susan, and Rick. Jerry and Dick lived above the Dicks’s IGA store in Waterloo, Nebraska for 5 years before moving to a house in Waterloo. The family moved to Valley, Nebraska in 1966, where Jerry spent the last many years. Dick preceded Jerry in death in March 2005.

Jerry worked for a short time as secretary at the Farm Bureau office in Webster City, but after marrying Dick, she spent her working hours and days helping with the stores in any and all capacities. When she wasn’t working, Jerry enjoyed bowling, playing cards, especially Canasta, Pinochle, BUNCO with the “Happy Hour Club”, or Old Maid with the grandkids. She kept her mind sharp with word searches and cross-word puzzles, and was a prolific writer, penning hundreds of poems. Jerry was active at St. Mark’s Lutheran church, and taught Sunday School for many years. She was an excellent cook and baker, and was known for the pies she would bake. Jerry was a sports fan, and closely followed baseball and the Kansas City Royals, but most of all she loved following all of the games and activities of her grandkids and great grandkids.

Jerry was a nurturing, supportive, and accepting woman. She was strong, hard-working, creative, and always honest. Jerry had high standards, especially for herself, and was classy, in that she never left the house without being put together just so. She was her own worst critic. She was very organized, and took much pride in organizing family photo albums, and keeping track of the family history. She had a special connection to each of her grandchildren, and was able to highlight the uniqueness of each individual one. While Dick was very outgoing, Jerry was more of a homebody, but everyone in the family knew, Jerry was the glue that held the whole family together. Jerry will be remembered for the care and love she had for everyone that she knew, but also how special her entire family was to her.

Jerry died on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at the age of 88 11 months, and 4 days. She was preceded in death by her husband Dick, infant daughter Janice Marie, parents Howard & Thelma Jensen, sister Dorothy Becker, and brothers Duane, Howard “Bud”, Gary, Darrel, and Marvin. Jerry is survived by children Bob & Cindy Hayden of Valley, NE, Susie & Mike Sip of Elkhorn, and Rick & Laurie Hayden of Valley, 8 grandchildren; Sarah Hayden, Steve (Amy) Winkler, Jennie Hayden, Amy (Peyton) Lewis, Stacie Winkler, Jill (Adam) Lamprecht, Jeff (Kara) Hayden, and Chad (Megan) Hayden, 14 great grandchildren; Taylor Hayden, Lea Hays, Hayden Lewis, Tyson Lewis, Jade Lewis, Brayden Hayden, Ava Lamprecht, Max Lamprecht, Vivian Winkler, Jaxon Lewis, Bennet Winkler, Addison Hayden, Judd Hayden, and McKenna Hayden, brother Terry & Shirley Jensen of Jewell, IA, sisters Marlene Anderson of Webster City, IA, and Joyce & Lanny Hill of Pomeroy, IA, and numerous nieces and nephews.