Gerald ‘Jerry’ Ernest Maxwell

Gerald ‘Jerry’ Ernest Maxwell

Cedar Rapids

Gerald ‘Jerry’ Ernest Maxwell, 85, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at Oldorf Hospice House. Visitation will be held from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Friday, March 28, 2025. A Memorial mass will be held on Friday, March 28, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. A live stream of the funeral service may be accessed through crpiusx.org.

Jerry was born on January 21, 1940, in Saginaw, Michigan, to James Laurrell and Lucille (Sanford) Maxwell. The second of nine children, he pursued higher education at the University of Wyoming, where he played football for the Wyoming Cowboys at the 1958 Sun Bowl, before earning his bachelor’s degree from Mount Mercy College. On June 17, 1967, he married Barbara Carroll in Ryan, Iowa. After a 30-year career, he retired from Rockwell-Collins as a software engineer.

He had a deep love for nature, gardening, and birdwatching. He also enjoyed playing slow-pitch softball, biking, running, weightlifting, and basketball. Additionally, he coached diving at Kennedy High School and Coe College in Cedar Rapids. He was a master woodcarver and had a strong passion for aviation, building his own ultralight aircraft and a light-sport plane. He was an athlete, an intellect, and an artist. He was our superhero, and we miss him.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of 57 years, Barbara Maxwell of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; children, Carol (David) Rezabek of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Mark (Laurie) Maxwell of New Haven, Connecticut; Matthew (Varsha) Maxwell of Madison, Wisconsin; granddaughter, Cameron Rezabek; siblings, James (Barbara) Maxwell, Nan Pratt, Patrick Maxwell, Timothy (Jean) Maxwell, Theresa Chisholm, William (Doris) Maxwell, Peter (Debbie) Maxwell, Paul (Terri) Maxwell; siblings-in-law, William (Rosemary) Carroll, Thomas (Carole) Carroll, Jane (Tom) McNinch, John (Janet) Carroll, Mary (Jon) Hajek, Marcia (Tim) Cooper, Steve (Becky) Carroll, and Greg (Pam) Carroll.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother-in-law Bruce Chisholm, and brother-in-law Paul Carroll.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to HACAP, the Red Cross, Oldorf Hospice House, or the family in Jerry’s honor.

Please share a memory of Jerry at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.