Gerald Dean Thornburgh “Jerry” was born June 19, 1940, at the Greene County Hospital in Jefferson, Iowa. After Jerry was born, he went to live with his grandparents, Clyde and Mary Thornburgh, at their house just east of Cooper, Iowa.
His parents, Donald and Dorothy (Stark) Thornburgh, then moved half a mile south, where they welcomed his baby sister, Judy, in September 1942. A couple of years later in 1944, they all moved to a farm just two miles east of Cooper, where Jerry and Judy spent their childhood.
Jerry learned how to help milk cows, feed the hogs and chicken and raise sheep.
He got baptized and joined the Methodist Church in Cooper when he was 12 years old.
Jerry went to Franklin Township School, also known as Cooper School, where he learned reading (which he loved), writing (not so much) and math (wasn’t too bad). He read every book in the school library and continued his love of reading books his whole life.
Jerry played the drums, was in a dance band, played baseball and basketball and was in school plays for seven years.
After high school, Jerry played town-team softball.
He worked for the family business as a truck driver, hauling grain, livestock and moving family belongings when they needed help.
In 1960 he started farming the Morse farm just west of Rippey. Then in 1963 he moved onto the McDowell farm.
On Sept. 29, 1963, Jerry married the love of his life, Karen Kaye Reckseen, at the Methodist Church in Woodward. The couple moved to Woodward in August 1965, where Jerry worked for Farmers Grain and Supply.
In December 1964 they were blessed with a baby girl, Michelle Kaye “Shellie,” and in 1967 a son, Patrick Dean “Pat.”
Jerry ran the feed mill for nine years and co-managed the Bouton elevator. In 1975 Cargill Inc. bought the elevators, and he was then hired as an assistant manager for Woodward, Granger and Bouton for the next 25 years.
The elevators were then bought by West Central Coop, and Jerry became the manager. After 38 years of serving the farming community, he retired in 2004.
Jerry and Karen were married for 52 wonderful years until her passing in 2016.
Jerry got to see his daughter graduate from Ogden High School and then from DMACC in Ankeny. Then walked her down the aisle at her wedding to Emory Arentson and watched them raise eight children.
Jerry watched Pat graduate from Ogden High School as well as Northeast Missouri State College, which was a first for Jerry’s family. He was there when Pat married Erin McGivney and watched them raise two boys.
Jerry was there for all the occasions no matter if it was big or small. He loved his family.
Jerry never met a person he couldn’t talk to, and so he made many friends throughout his life, especially his friend Bill W.
Jerry passed away March 22, 2023, at his home in Woodward, Iowa.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents; parents, Donald and Dorothy; his wife, Karen; sister, Judy (Dwight) Mansfield; and nephew, Tony D. Mansfield.
Jerry will be greatly missed by his daughter, Michelle “Shellie” (Emory) Arentson of Boone; son, Patrick “Pat” (Erin) Thornburgh of New Virginia; grandchildren, Travis (Sydney) Thornburgh of Ankeny, Trevor Thornburgh of New Virginia, Hannah (Scott) Kratzer of Marshalltown, Megan (Zach) Sloter of Boone, Titus (Carolyn) Arentson of Dubuque, Esther (Caleb) McKim of Ames, James (Alicia) Arentson of Perry, Silas (Maryn) Arentson of Ogden, Mary Arentson of Boone and Ezra Arentson of Boone; and great-grandchildren, Ava, Lucy, Olivia and Margaret Kratzer, Ryan, Katie, Eli and Emma Sloter, William and Max Arentson and Amia Arentson; other relatives; and so many friends.
Visitation was held March 26 from 1-4 p.m., with family present from 2-4 p.m., at the Hastings Funeral Home in Perry. Funeral services were March 27 at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be sent to P.O. Box 204, Perry, IA 50220.
