Geerdes, Jerry Joe, 1939-1941

GEERDES, GERDES, GRELL

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/16/2022 at 08:04:34

From the Boyden Reporter, July 3, 1941:

Child Drowns In Stock Tank

Tragedy struck the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. Gerdes on Friday of last week, when their small son Jerry, two and one half years old, drowned in the stock tank. A doctor was summoned and artificial respiration was applied for over an hour but the little lad did not respond to this treatment. The entire community extends their sympathy to the bereaved couple.

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RESEARCH NOTES

His death certificate (informant Warner Geerdes) has Jerry Joe Geerdes, age 1 year 9 months 24 days; residence 5 miles south, 1-1/4 mile east of George, Lyon County; born Sept. 3, 1939 in Lyon County; parents Warner Geerdes, born in Lyon County, Iowa, and Carmen Grell, born in Holstein, Iowa; died June 27, 1941; drowned after falling in water tank; buried in the First Presbyterian Cemetery near George.

His FindaGrave.com page gives his parents’ full names and dates – Warner William Geerdes (1899-1951) and Carmen Mary Grell Geerdes (1913-1991) – and includes a photo of his headstone.