Jerry D. Nelson

JERRY D. NELSON

Cedar Rapids

Jerry D. Nelson, 84, of Cedar Rapids, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Monday, April 2, 2018, at Meadowview Memory Care Village in Cedar Rapids. Visitation will be on Sunday, April 8, from

1 to 4 p.m. at the Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. Memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, April 9, at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Marion, Iowa. Family will greet friends one hour before the service, beginning at 10 a.m. at the church. A private family inurnment will take place at a later date.

He is survived by his two daughters, Chris Nelson of Cedar Rapids and Geri (John) Kearney of Ottumwa; three grandchildren, Thomas, Sarah and Rose; and eight nieces and nephews

He loved his family and is preceded in death by his parents; three older siblings, Marjorie (Bud) Reichardt, Tom (Eleanor) Nelson and Jack (Marge) Nelson; and his beloved wife, Becky.

Jerry Nelson was born on Nov. 15, 1933, in Sioux City, Iowa, the son of Oscar and Carrie Nelson. He attended the University of Iowa and graduated with a civil engineering degree in 1957. He married Becky Heddrich Sept. 30, 1961, in Buckeye, Iowa. Jerry worked for Linn County as the assistant county engineer in 1961 and became the county engineer in 1979. He proudly retired in 1998. Jerry was awarded the county engineer of the year in the state of Iowa in 1998.

Jerry was a member of the Harmony Hawks Chorus, joining in 1961, and the SPEBSQSA (Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America) for almost 60 years. Jerry was awarded Barbershopper of the Year in 1979. He was a faithful member of St Mark's Lutheran Church, where he sang in the choir as well as being a member of several prayer groups, both in Iowa and Florida, where he and Becky spent their winters. Jerry had a passion for woodworking and made hundreds of artistic intarsia pieces. He never missed a day of doing crosswords and was a lifelong Cubs fan.

Jerry was a wonderful husband, father, brother, uncle and friend and especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. He will be greatly missed and never forgotten. The three things that were most important to Jerry were his family, his faith in Jesus Christ, and living life to its fullest.

The family would like to thank all the residents and staff from the Meadowview Memory Care Village and the Care Initiatives Hospice for their love, support and tender care given to Jerry.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for memorials to be made to St. Mark's Lutheran in Marion, Iowa, and First Lutheran Church in Ottumwa, Iowa.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.