Gerald (Jerry) Erickson

GERALD ALLYN ERICKSON Marion Gerald (Jerry) Allyn Erickson, 89, of Marion, Iowa, passed peacefully on Jan. 30, 2017. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, Feb. 4, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 3634 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with visitation at 10:30 a.m. and worship service at 11:30 a.m. Interment at Grygla, Minn., will be at a later date. Jerry is survived by his wife, Ardith (Ardy); five children, Greg (Laurel) Erickson, Suwanee, Ga., Kristine (David) Rowley, Spirit Lake, Iowa, Kathy (Jim) Loux, Springfield, Ill., Lori (Jeff) Hayes, Marion, Iowa, and Lisa (Collin) Suttie, Chesterfield, Mo.; 10 grandchildren, Erik Rowley, Schaumburg, Ill., Krista (Chet) Aliga, Denver, Colo., Kathleen Rowley, Iowa City, Iowa, Connor Rowley, Iowa City, Iowa, Erica (Peter) Goings, Kansas City, Mo., Dana Hayes, Kansas City, Mo., Lauren Suttie, Indianapolis, Ind., Kara Suttie, Chesterfield, Mo., Ted Radford, Suwanee, Ga., and Charlotte Radford, Statesboro, Ga.; brother, the Rev. Clint (Sigrid) Erickson of Webster, Wis.; and sister-in-law, Donna Erickson of Rochester, Minn. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Dennis Erickson, Rochester, Minn., and Dale Erickson, Minneapolis, Minn.; and grandson, Sean Rowley. Jerry was born on Dec. 17, 1927, on a farm near Grygla, Minn., the son of Gustaf Adolph Erickson and Tilda (Hylland) Erickson. Though raised on a farm, he attended Oak Grove Lutheran High School, Fargo, N.D., and graduated in 1945. He entered the U.S. Navy and served as an electronics technician until 1947. He married the love of his life, Ardy Nordby, Grygla, Minn., June 25, 1951, and honeymooned in Yellowstone. Jerry graduated from North Dakota State University, Fargo, N.D., with a B.S. in electrical engineering degree, 1953. They moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where Jerry was employed by Collins Radio Co. for 36 years (Rockwell Collins) as a research and design engineer. He worked in the Advanced Communications and Countermeasures Division of Collins Defenses Communications and retired in 1989. His family refers to him as America's "Q." Jerry loved golf, baseball, camping, travel, photography, card games, technology, finance, Fox News and carpentry! Jerry never left the farm. After retirement, he would return to Grygla spring and fall to help work the Nordby century farm. A member of Sons of Norway, visiting his ancestral homeland in Norway was a favorite trip. He loved sharing his faith through various church ministries. He sang tenor for over 63 years in church choirs. Iconic images associated with Jerry: blueberry pancakes, lutefisk, mountains, coffee, newspapers, pocket protectors and his blue eyes. Memorials can be made to Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.