Haight, Jerry Keith

Jerry Keith Haight, 72, of Solon, died Wednesday, May 11, 2011, at his home on the lake, surrounded by his family. Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, May 14, at Solon United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Carol Kress presiding. Private family inurnment will be in Oakland Cemetery, Solon. Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday at Brosh Chapel in Cedar Rapids, located at 2121 Bowling St. SW, and for an hour before services Saturday at the church.

Survivors include his wife, Shery; his children, Debra (Dr. Richard) Apodaca of Earlham, Steven (Pam) Haight of Bozeman, Mont., and Mark (Jeannie) Haight of Ely; grandchildren, Andrew and Alexa, Brooks, Jennifer, Brittanie, Brian, Trevor, Christian and Denver; his sister, Linda (Tom) Rutter of Cherokee; and his three great-grandchildren.

Jerry was born May 8, 1939, in Cherokee, to Henry and Myrtle (Swanson) Haight. He graduated from Aurelia Community High School in 1957. He first worked for the Iowa Highway Commission and later became a highway inspector for the City of Cedar Rapids. He then worked for E & F Concrete for over 18 years. Jerry married Bette Jo Fell in 1961 and the three children were born of this union. They were later divorced. He married Shery Long on Sept. 2, 1978, and made a home in Solon for the children. Jerry was also one of the owners of Hall and Hall Engineering and in 1979, founded Iowa Valley Monument, where he worked until his death.

He was a member of AOPA, SOKOL, Solon United Methodist Church, Masonic Lodge, El Kahir Shrine and a board member of the Solon Library. Jerry enjoyed his positions as trustee of the Big Grove Township, sexton of Czech National Cemetery and St. Joseph Cemetery in Cedar Rapids. Jerry was responsible for the design and completion of many memorial monuments for veterans, cemeteries, and other various public groups.

Jerry's interests included the Lake Macbride area and the activities it provided for friends and family, especially boating and fishing. Jerry was a great supporter of Solon athletics and rarely missed an athletic event any of his grandchildren participated in. Jerry loved Hawkeye sports, especially riding to the games on the train with his grandchildren.

Integrity, respect, and honesty were the ideals that he lived by. Jerry was totally dedicated to his business and honest to a fault. He will be remembered by all who knew him because everyone he met became a friend. Jerry was a clever prankster and very much enjoyed telling stories and jokes.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.broshchapel.com