Tweeten, Jerry L. (1956-2015)

TWEETEN, FOLKERTS

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 5/11/2015 at 18:45:35

Jerry L. Tweeten
September 13, 1956 - May 5, 2015

Jerry L. Tweeten, 58, of Forest City, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 5, 2015, at Mercy Medical Center – Des Moines, Iowa.

A son of Roger and Luetta (Folkerts) Tweeten, Jerry was born on September 13, 1956, in Buffalo Center. He attended school in Forest City and graduated with the Class of 1975.

A beloved son, brother, brother-in-law, nephew, cousin, and personable friend, Jerry distinguished himself as a hardworking and a much-loved member of his community. A friend to everyone, he always remembered everyone’s name. He loved scrap-booking pictures and articles from the Forest City Summit and working with people.

After graduating from high school, Jerry worked the Wednesday sales at the Cow Palace in Forest City for a few years. He, also, spent many years working first at Bowen’s Food Center and then, since 1990, at Bill’s Family Foods. In addition, he and his father raised cattle and hogs and then began specializing in raising and selling feeder pigs. Jerry had a gift for working with hogs and could even read each and every one of their personalities.

Jerry received Jesus Christ as his personal Savior at a young age and was an active member of the First Baptist Church in Forest City. He served, for example, on the Christian Education Committee, the Nominating Committee, as an usher, as a member of Front Door Ministry, and as the secretary of the First Baptist Cemetery Association.

Interested in politics, Jerry became a regular face in various capacities at state Republican Party functions. In time, he, also, became chairman of the Winnebago County Republican Party. He never sought the spotlight, but it often found him as people running for office from the local courthouse to the White House would seek his endorsement and support. A major highlight for him was attending the Republican National Conventions in 2004 in New York City and again in 2008 in Minneapolis as an alternate delegate. On many occasions, while driving a support vehicle for a candidate in a parade, Jerry would receive more attention than the candidates themselves. Moreover, at a young age, he worked on Terry Branstad’s campaign for public office.

A dedicated member of the Lions Club at the local and state levels, Jerry served as president of the local Forest City chapter numerous times and as the North Central Iowa Loins Club District Governor from 2006-2007. Recently, he was honored with the Lion of the Year Award for 2014 by the Forest City Lions Club.

Jerry gave much of his time as a volunteer to many organizations. They included the Winnebago County Pork Producers, the Winnebago County Historical Society, the Class of 1975 Reunion Organizing Committee, the Forest City Beautification Committee, and the Miss Forest City Pageant. He helped organize the annual pork and sweet corn dinner during the Puckerbrush town celebration each year, one of his favorite endeavors. Moreover, he served as a mentor for students at the Forest City High School, an activity he really enjoyed. Over the years at the Iowa State Fair, he worked for the Iowa Pork Producers, the Lions Club of Iowa, and the Iowa Republican Party.

Jerry is survived by his mother, Luetta (Folkerts) Tweeten, of Forest City; his brothers, Michael Tweeten, of Des Moines, Charles Tweeten, and wife, Marcia, of Forest City, and Randy Tweeten, and his wife, Camille, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; as well as by many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Roger Tweeten.

Jerry will be dearly missed by his family, his church family, his co-workers, his organizations, and his community.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Saturday, May 9, 2015, at the First Baptist Church Family Center Auditorium, 18508 E Hwy 9, Forest City, with Pastor Eric Weaver officiating. Visitation will be from 2:00 to 7:00 P.M. with the family present to greet visitors from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M., Friday, May 8, 2015, at the First Baptist Church. Interment will take place in the First Baptist Cemetery (Hwy 69 North next to Oakland Cemetery) in Forest City. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the First Baptist Church of Forest City, the Forest City Lions Club, and/or the Winnebago County Historical Society.

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