James Otto JERDE

JERDE, LANGERUD, JOHNSON, OESTREICH, POTTER, REINER, ELLINGSON, BUCKLEY

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/23/2007 at 23:33:38

October 31, 1997
Mason City (Iowa) Globe Gazette

CLARION — Jim Otto Jerde died Wednesday (Oct. 29, 1997) at home at the age of 54 years, 10 months, and 20 days. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at First Lutheran Church, with Pastor Gary Boen officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Willim Funeral Home.

James Otto Jerde was born April 9, 1943, at Clarion, the son of Melvin L. and Mabel (Langerud) Jerde. He was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church. He graduated from Clarion High School in 1961. He was united in marriage to Janet Johnson on March 16, 1979, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. He operated the New Home Cafe and the Cornerstone Restaurant for many years. He owned and operated North Iowa Real Estate & Appraisal. He was a member of Rotary; Shriners; Clarion Development Commission in which he was a past president; a member of the Board of Directors of Clarmond Country Club; board member of Parks Department; member of Clarion Chamber of Commerce; Wright County Economic Development Commission; Wright County Compensation Board; and served on the Clarion City Council. Jim received the Outstanding Long Term Service Award in 1996 for his contributions to the com- munity of Clarion.

Survivors include his wife, Janet; son, Joe; daughters, Angela Oestreich and her husband, Craig, of Silver Lake, Minn.; and Aimee Johnson and friend Justin Reiner, of Hutchinson, Minn.; grandson, Quentin Reiner; sister, Joan Potter and husband, Monte Potter of Iowa Falls; Aunt Myrth Jerde of Clarion; nephew, Tod Potter, of Mesa, Ariz.; niece, Katy Ellingson of Phoenix, Ariz.; father-in-law, Clyde Buckley of Fertile; and brother-in-law, David Buckley and his wife, Marty, of Corsicana, Texas; nieces, nephews, cousins,and many good friends.

We will all remember "Jerd" as someone who made Clarion a better place to live, who unselfishly gave his time, talent and money to further the betterment of this community. He was a friend to all — young and old. He was preceded in death by his parents.