Gerald Thornburgh

Gerald Dean Thornburgh “Jerry” was born June 19, 1940 at the Greene County Hospital in Jefferson. After Jerry was born he went to live at his grandparents, Clyde and Mary Thornburgh’s house just east of Cooper. His parents Donald and Dorothy (Stark) Thornburgh then moved half a mile South where they welcomed his baby sister Judy in September of 1942. A couple years later in 1944 they all moved to a farm just two miles east of Cooper where Jerry and Judy spent their childhood. Jerry learned how to milk cows, feed the hogs and chicken, and helped raise sheep. He got baptized and joined the Methodist Church in Cooper when he was 12 years old. Jerry went to Franklin Township School, also known as Cooper School, where he learned reading (which he loved), writing (not so much), and math (wasn’t too bad). He read every book in the school library and continued his love of reading books his whole life.
Jerry played the drums, was in dance band, played baseball and basketball, and was in school plays for seven years. After high school Jerry played town-team softball. He worked for the family business as a truck driver, hauling grain, livestock, and moving family belongings when they needed help. In 1960 he started farming the Morse Farm just west of Rippey, then in 1963 he moved onto the McDowell Farm. On Sept. 29, 1963 Jerry married the love of his life, Karen Kaye Reckseen, at the Methodist Church in Woodward. The couple moved to Woodward in August of 1965 where Jerry worked for Farmers Grain and Supply. In December of 1964 they were blessed with a baby girl Michelle Kaye “Shellie,” and in 1967 a son Patrick Dean “Pat.”
Jerry ran the feed mill for nine years and co-managed the Bouton Elevator. In 1975 Cargill Inc. bought the elevators and he was then hired as an assistant manager for Woodward, Granger, and Bouton for the next 25 years. After that the elevators were bought by West Central Coop and Jerry became the manager. After 38 years of serving the farming community he retired in 2004. Jerry and Karen were married for 52 wonderful years until her passing in 2016. He got to see his daughter graduate from Ogden High School and then from DMACC in Ankeny. Then walked her down the aisle at her wedding to Emory Arentson and watched them raise eight children. Jerry watched Pat graduate from Ogden High School as well as Northeast Missouri State College (which was a first for Jerry’s family). He was there when Pat married Erin McGivney and watched them raise two boys. Jerry was there for all the occasions no matter if it was big or small. He loved his family.
Jerry never met a person he couldn’t talk to, and so he made many friends throughout his life, especially his friend Bill W. He passed away on March 22, 2023 at his home in Woodward. Jerry was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents Donald and Dorothy, his wife Karen, sister Judy Mansfield (Dwight), and nephew Tony D. Mansfield.
He will be greatly missed by his daughter Michelle “Shellie” Arentson (Emory) of Boone; son Patrick “Pat” Thornburgh (Erin) of New Virginia; grandchildren: Travis Thornburgh (Sydney) of Ankeny, Trevor Thornburgh of New Virginia, Hannah Kratzer (Scott) of Marshalltown, Megan Sloter (Zach) of Boone, Titus Arentson (Carolyn) of Dubuque, Esther McKim (Caleb) of Ames, James Arentson (Alicia) of Perry, Silas Arentson (Maryn) of Ogden, Mary Arentson of Boone, and Ezra Arentson of Boone; and great-grandchildren: Ava, Lucy, Olivia and Margaret Kratzer, Ryan, Katie, Eli and Emma Sloter, William and Max Arentson, and Amia Arentson; other relatives, and so many friends. Visitation was held from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. with family hours from 2 – 4 on Sunday, March 26 at Hastings Funeral Home in Perry. Funeral Services were 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 27 also at the funeral home.
Memorials may be sent to P.O. Box #204 – Perry, IA 50220.