Gerald JORGENSEN

JORGENSEN, CARTER, BORING, NIEMEYER, KONDRATH, BUSKE, BROWN, RIER, CAYLER, GODFREY, HUGHS, DERRIG, RICE

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 5/5/2010 at 09:54:47

May 5, 2010
Fort Dodge Messenger, Iowa

Gerald "Jerry" Jorgensen, 77, of Fort Dodge, died Sunday, May 2, 2010 at the Trinity Regional Medical Center. Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Bruce-Graham Funeral Home with the Rev. Stephen Peters officiating. Visitation will be held from 8:30 a.m. until service time on Thursday. Military honors will be conducted by the Walter Porsch VFW Post 1856.

Jerry was born June 23, 1932, the son of Lincoln Devere and Eva Martha (Carter) Jorgensen, in Clarion, Iowa. He was raised in Holmes, Iowa and graduated from the Clarion High School with the class of 1949. On July 6, 1950 Jerry enlisted in the United States Navy and served his country until his honorable discharge on May 5, 1954. He served his tour on the USS Valley Forge Aircraft Carrier earning the following commendations; National Defense Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Navy Occupation Service Medal Asia Clasp and the Good Conduct Medal with 2 Stars. On August 6, 1955 Jerry was united in marriage to Billee J. Boring in Austin, Minn. To this union three children were born.

Jerry loved the outdoors whether he was working in the garden, taking care of the yard, studying birds or preparing a feast as he cooked and smoked meat for a gathering of friends and family. Jerry and Billee enjoyed their time together often spending it traveling and enjoying the sights. Jerry was very partial to his family and over the years played the role of Santa sharing his generosity and love for family and friends. He also planted a tree in honor of each of his grandchildren. Jerry was employed as the Safety and Personnel Supervisor at National Gypsum for several years. Jerry and his son later opened there own bookkeeping and tax service business in which they operated until his retirement in 2008. Jerry was a former member of the Junior Achievers and a lifetime member of the V.F.W.

Those thankful for having shared in Jerry's life include his wife Billee; children, Tony (Lynn Niemeyer) Jorgensen, Lori (Todd) Kondrath, Lisa (Brian Buske) Brown; one brother, Wallace Jorgensen; two sisters, Pauline (Robert) Rier, Sandra (James) Cayler; six grandchildren, Alisa (Matt Godfrey) Brown, Ryan Kondrath, Sean Kondrath, Alex Brown, John (Madison Hughs) Derrig, Jacob Rice; two great-grandchildren, Willow Godfrey, Lillian Hughs; special friend, Alan Brown and several nieces and nephews. Mr. Jorgensen was preceded in death by his parents, Lincoln and Eva Jorgensen; sister-in-law, Sherry Jorgensen; and a brother-in-law, Forrest Boring.