Morgan, Gerald A. 'Jerry'

Gerald A. “Jerry” Morgan, 67, of Lone Tree (River Junction), passed away Sunday, May 12, 2013, at Mercy Iowa City. Funeral services for Jerry will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 16, at the Sorden-Lewis Home for Funeral and Cremation Services in Lone Tree. Burial will be in the River Junction Cemetery. Following the interment, there will be a time of food and fellowship at the American Legion Post 457. Visitation for Jerry will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be directed to the Johnson County Historical Society or the Lone Tree Fire and Rescue in memory of Jerry.

Online condolences for the Morgan family may be sent to .

Gerald Anthony Morgan was born Dec. 9, 1945, in Muscatine, Iowa, the son of Anthony E. and Eulalia (Duwa) Morgan. Jerry was a 1964 graduate of Lone Tree High School. On Aug. 12, 1967, Jerry was united in marriage to Joan M. Ricke in Iowa City, Iowa. Jerry farmed with his brother, Wayne. In earlier years, he was employed by Kmart and Nagles Lumber Company in Iowa City. Jerry was on the Farm Bureau board of directors and had served as past president and voting delegate. He also served on the Johnson County Conservation Board, trustee for Fremont Township, president of the River Junction Old Settlers Association and a member of the Johnson County Historical Society and the Lone Tree Lions Club. As an active Oliver Collector, he was president of the Iowa Cornbelt Oliver Collectors Club, member of the Hart-Parr Oliver Club, Wayland Area Antique Tractor Club and the Midwest Oliver Club. He restored vintage tractors with Jerry Fisher. Jerry enjoyed showing his tractors at tractor shows and parades, especially the “Purple 1850 Oliver.” He started the River Junction Tractor Ride, the River Junction Spring Festival, the River Junction Old Settlers Picnic and the River Junction Christmas Open House. He was instrumental in getting River Junction back on the printed map. He also enjoyed traveling with his wife, Joan.

Jerry will be deeply missed by Joan, his wife of 46 years; sisters, Delores and (Gene) Koenighain of Iowa City, Susan and (Denny) Denton of Des Moines and Julie and (Dean) Miller of Kalona; one brother, Wayne and (Susan) Morgan of Lone Tree; brothers-in-law, Richard Gerot of Iowa City and Henry and (Janet) Ricke of Algona; sister-in-law, Rose Ricke of Des Moines; and many nieces and nephews.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Rosemary Gerot; and mother-in-law, Ruth Ricke Johnson.

Published in The Gazette May 14, 2013.