Crow, Jerry Dale 1942-2022

CROW, JEFFERS, COMMANDER, HENSELIN

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/1/2023 at 12:11:11

Jerry Dale Crow was born on September 27, 1942, on a farm near Hawarden, Iowa to William Austin and Lillian Myrtle (Jeffers) Crow. He grew up in the Akron, Iowa area and was baptized at Wesley United Methodist Church in Akron in February of 1955 and was confirmed in April of 1957. Jerry attended Akron Community Schools and graduated in May of 1960.

Jerry attended and graduated from South Dakota State University in July of 1966. While at Brookings, he transferred to First Lutheran Church and worked for Midway Grocery. During summers he worked for Woodbury County Department of Social Services, where he began his employment career as a social worker after graduation.

He married Kathleen Commander in 1967 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sioux City, Iowa and this union blessed them with one daughter, Claire. This union was later dissolved.

After a service of eight years with the Iowa Department of Social Services, Jerry attended Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree in June of 1978.

Jerry met Darlene Henselin of Caroline, WI, and they two were married at Augustana Lutheran Church in Chicago in September of 1975.

Jerry was ordained into the Holy Ministry of Word and Sacrament in the Lutheran Church of America on June 25, 1978, and served parishes at Albia and Ely, Iowa. Darlene and Jerry moved to Oshkosh, Wisconsin in 1983 to be closer to Darlene’s family. He then returned to social work in 1986 at Wood County Department of Social Services in Marshfield, WI. While employed there, Jerry completed a year of graduate work in social work and earned certification. While he was working there, Darlene passed away in 1994. Jerry retired from Wood County in December of 1997, when he returned to active ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, after moving to Rochester, MN. Jerry served Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wykoff, MN until retiring in 2002. Jerry moved to Akron Iowa, where he ran a Bed and Breakfast Inn and served as interim pastor at Trinity in Akron, Hudson, South Dakota, and St. John, east of Akron, just three miles of where his family farmed until February of 1954. After moving to Sioux City in 2009, Jerry served as a supply priest at Calvary Episcopal Church. Jerry was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Windom.

He had many hobbies, such as, cooking, finishing, and refinishing furniture, and traveling. He enjoyed listening to music, attending concerts, and very much appreciated art. Jerry loved cats and enjoyed taking care of his cat, Max, who was real good company.

Jerry is survived by his daughter Claire (Mark) of Eagle River, Alaska; grandson, John; niece, Jean Fast; sisters-in-law, Deloris (Frank) Crow of Craig, Colorado, and Vonda (Jack) Crow of Arvada, Colorado and many nieces and nephews and their families.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Darlene, his mother, father, grandparents, and siblings; De Loris Meske, Willis, Frank, Betty Rzadecki, Jim, Jack, and Mert Marsh, and by her husband, Ron; by my brothers-in-law, Elmer Meske, Jack Foster and Ray Rzadecki, and by two nephews, Brad Crow and Jay Fosters; and by two nieces, Lynn Crow and Annette Marsh.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.

Source: Sturm Funeral Home online obituary.