Jerald Dean FORD, Sr.

FORD, REED, BAHR, JANSSEN, PETERSEN, MCGRUGOR

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/10/2009 at 08:51:07

Jerry D. Ford Sr., 70, of Lone Tree, died Monday, June 13, 2005, at his home, following an extended illness. Funeral services were Friday, June 17, at the Sorden-Lewis Home for Funeral and Cremation Services in Lone Tree. Casketbearers were Jason Janssen, Jeromey Ford, Craig Ford, Scott Ford, Arrion Ford and Timothy Ford. Honorary casketbearers were Angela Finke, Joseph Ford, Christopher Ford and Cody Ford. Burial was at the Lone Tree Cemetery with full military rites by the Lone Tree American Legion Post 457. A memorial has been established.

Jerald Dean Ford was born August 17, 1934, in Mason City, the son of Wendell K. and Dorothy (Reed) Ford. He graduated from Iowa Falls High School, earned his bachelor of arts degree from Wartburg College and attended classes at Mankato State. He served in the U.S. Army from 1953-60 during the Korean Conflict. On November 21, 1953, he was united in marriage to Evelyn Bahr in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He was a teacher for two years in Kanawha, 10 years in Ringsted and 19 years at the Lone Tree Community School, retiring in 1991. He coached high-school girls basketball, boys baseball and football and was the assistant wrestling coach. He also coached junior-high girls track. He was a member of the Lone Tree American Legion Post 457. He enjoyed fishing and traveling, including trips to Alaska and Thermopolis Hot Springs, and watching his kids and grandkids playing sports.

He is survived by his wife, Evelyn, of Lone Tree; one daughter, Linda Janssen and her husband, Rodney, of Des Moines; four sons, Jerry Ford and his wife, Nancy, of Lone Tree, Jim Ford and his wife, Janyce, of Lone Tree, David Ford and his wife, Martha, of Lone Tree and Kenneth Ford and Lisa Petersen of Iowa City; 10 grandchildren, Jason and his wife, Darci, Jeromey, Angela and her husband, Joe, Craig, Scott, Arrion, Joseph, Christopher, Timothy and Cody; one great-grandson, Matthew; one brother, Larry Ford, and his wife, Elaine, of Colorado; one stepbrother, Robert Smith, and his wife, Janet, of Osage Beach, Missouri; and one stepsister, Dee McGrugor, of Sun City, Arizona. He was preceded in death by his parents and one son, Jerald Dean Jr.

June 21, 2005
West Liberty Index, Iowa