Howe, Gerald 'Jerry'

Gerald "Jerry" Howe

Gerald Everett “Jerry” Howe, husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, passed away Oct. 4, 2011, at home surrounded by family. He lived to be 78 years, 10 months and 14 days before pancreatic cancer took his life.

Survivors include his loving wife of 49 years, Audrey; two sons, Gerald “Jerry” Howe Jr. (Joan), and their three sons, Andrew, Travis and Jordan, all of Tigard, Ore., and Daniel Howe (Tracy), and their four children, Abigail, Addison, Thomas and Rhianna, all of Camdenton, Mo.; four sisters, Marjorie Barta-Dowde of Marshalltown, Helen Wiley (Ellsworth) of Belle Plaine, Zelda Andresen of Atkins and Linda Lindgrin (Tom) of Cedar Rapids; two brothers, Stanford Howe of Elberon and Allen Howe (Linda) of Cedar Rapids; along with many nieces and nephews.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Thelma; a brother, Delbert; and four brothers in-law, Clifford Barta, John Barta, Gaylon Gien and Calvin Andresen.

Jerry was born Nov. 20, 1932, at home in Garrison, Iowa, the seventh child of Alma and Everett Howe. He graduated in 1950 from Keystone High School enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1951, serving four years active duty in the Korean conflict and four years as Naval Reserve instructor in Cedar Rapids. His four years of active duty were served on the USS Cassin Young DD793, taking him around the world to experience people and places he never imagined. Jerry attended reunions every few years to share memories and reunite with fellow shipmates on the Cassin Young, now a museum located in the Charleston Naval Shipyard, Boston, Mass.

In 1954, Jerry married Patricia Nobel in Boston. To this union two children were born, a daughter, Linda, and a son, Paul. Patricia and Paul preceded Jerry in death.

Jerry was a member of the Camdenton (Mo.) United Methodist Church, Masonic Lodge, and a lifetime member of the American Legion, VFW and Tin Can Sailors Association.

Jerry had a great love of music, spending many years playing drums and singing in Iowa bands which included Don Anders and the Aces, Frank Buhr and the Midwest Ramblers, Kenny Hofer Orchestra, Johnny Ketelsen Band and the Don Miller Trio. In addition Jerry helped out various other bands over the years. He was the happiest when on stage making music for others.

In 1960, Jerry began working for Collins Radio, retiring from Rockwell in 1989.

In addition to music, Jerry enjoyed attending auctions, buying antiques, hunting, fishing, trap shooting, camping and playing bingo. Most important was time spent with his grandchildren and his beloved dog “Sassie.” He took great pride in his antique car and tractors, riding in parades and Tractorcades for many years. Winter months would find Jerry in Alamo, Texas, enjoying the warm weather, Saturday jam sessions and good times with friends.

Jerry truly loved live and the many blessings he was privileged to enjoy each and every day.

A celebration of life will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, at First United Methodist Church in Marion.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a fund established in Jerry's honor and directed to the family.

Online condolences may be made at .

Published Oct. 7, 2011, in The Gazette

Second notice published Nov. 6, 2011