GERST, Jeffrey Scott

GERST, GIESELMANN, KELDGORD

Posted By: Wagner (email)
Date: 6/22/2013 at 12:31:25

Jeffrey Scott Gerst – Morning Sun News-Herald, Thursday, May 16, 2013

Jeffrey Scott Gerst was born on July 6, 1953 in Oakville, Iowa. He grew up farming with his family in the fertile land around Oakville where he learned many of life’s lessons in the fields. Some of these included beating polio pre-vaccination, how to extricate oneself from the inner machinations of a manure spreader, corn knife safety during the removal of button weeds, and proper use of cover during BB gun sniper bathes with his brothers.

He graduated from Wapello High School, class of 1971. He married Ruth Gieselman on July 10, 1972 for 15 years and they had three children together in whom he took a lot of pride. He also had 4.778 grandchildren (4 plus one on the way). Jeff was active in Oakville civic life; serving on the city council, President of the Lions Club, and a deft-fielding first baseman during his slow-pitch softball heyday.

He worked as a welder at Case where he was a proud member of the UAW union, until he started his own business. He owned and operated J & R’s General Store, later added a gas station and a bulk fuel delivery truck which he named JMC Oil Co, and then another gas station in Wapello. He later worked at Louisa Publishing Company, as a part owner where he managed the printing operations. His cleverness shone brightly in this position, creating novel adjectives to express that the press was broken while coming up with even more unique ways to fix it. The paper always went out on time.

He married Kari Keldgord on June 23, 1989 for 20 years while running his gas station expansion in Wapello and his work at Louisa Publishing.

Jeff died on May 7, 2013 at age 59.

He leaves his children and grandchildren, Josh and Kristin Gerst of Carrollton, Texas, Minda and Andy Swisher of Slater, Iowa, and Collin Gerst of Singapore; two brothers, Wally and Donna Gerst of Grand Rapids, Michigan and Kevin and Selena Gerst of Toolesboro, Iowa; a sister-in-law, Bonnie Gerst of Congerville, Illinois; and friends old and new wherever he happened to be.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Liberty Gerst, and his oldest brother, Steve Gerst.

Open visitation was from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday at the Dudgeon-McCulley Funeral Home in Wapello where the family met with friends in the evening.

The funeral service was held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 11, 21013, at the Dudgeon-McCulley Funeral Home with the Rev. Darryl Erickson officiating. Committal followed at the Oakville Apostolic Christian Church Cemetery, given by Ed Lanz and the Church Singers.

A Memorial Fund was established for the benefits of the Prairie Ridge Rehab in Mason City and the Wapello Rescue Unit.

I am not related to this individual and have no further information.