Whalen, Jerold Alan (1946-2021)

WHALEN, ENDERSON, SUTKA, JUHL

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 12/27/2021 at 10:58:21

South Hamilton Record News, Jewell, Iowa, January 13, 2021

Jerold Alan (Jerry) Whalen, age 74, of Altoona, died January 7 at Taylor House hospice in Des Moines following a short illness. Jerry was born May 31, 1946 in the Hamilton County Hospital in Webster City to Ralph and Nioma (Enderson) Whalen. He graduated from South Hamilton with the class of 1964. He married the former Kris Sutka on August 16, 1969.

Jerry worked for the City of Webster City line department before he went to UNI, where he graduated in 1972 with a degree in social studies education. He taught social studies at Northeast Hamilton for one semester. He and his wife then moved to Bondurant, and later to Altoona. Jerry worked for Ross Electric in Bondurant for a period of time before accepting a position with DMACC, teaching electrical trades to high school students in the Knoxville area for 27 years. Jerry and his students wired numerous garages and farm buildings in the Knoxville area over the years, as well as doing the wiring in the homes built by the KHS Building Trades classes.

Following his retirement in June of 2002, Jerry and his wife purchased a cabin on Long Lake at Vergas, Minnesota, where they spent their summers for 18 years. Jerry was an avid fisherman and a sucker for the latest lure or fishing technology. He loved having family and friends visit at the cabin.

Jerry received a kidney transplant in October of 2014, which gave him six bonus years to enjoy his retirement.

He is survived by his wife Kris; his son Stephen (Alyson) Whalen of Coon Rapids, Minnesota; his daughter Jennifer (Jacob) Juhl of Bondurant; six grandchildren, Chloe Whalen, Carter Whalen, Cody Whalen, Izibelle Juhl, Mae Juhl and Amelia Juhl; his brother Richard (Bonnie) Whalen of rural Stanhope; his uncle Orlin Enderson of Ankeny; two nephews and several cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.

A celebration of life will beheld in the spring in Bondurant. His ashes will be interred in the Lawn Hill Cemetery south of Stanhope, also in the spring, with a graveside service at that time.