Masonic Services for Jerald Lee Fessler were held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, October 3, 2013 at the Hastings Funeral Home in Perry with Mr. John Summerson presiding. Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, October 4, 2013 at the Rippey United Methodist Church in Rippey, Iowa. Pastor Paul Burrow of the Rippey United Methodist Church provided words of comfort. Casket bearers were: Brittany & Michael Jungck, Nathan & Jamie Dobson, Casey & Luke Marshek, Jared Fessler, Jill & Seth Godby, Jenna Fessler & Zachary Richards and Taylor & Michael Cullum. Ushers were LaVere Derry and Dean Miller. Marjorie Vannatta was the Pianist and Brenda Roberts was the Soloist. Hymns chosen were How Great Thou Art and On The Wings of a Dove. Interment took place at the Violet Hill Cemetery in Perry, Iowa.
Jerald Lee Fessler, son of Clark Jacob Fessler and Georgiana Olson Fessler was born on December 8, 1934 in Berkley, Iowa and died September 29, 2013 at his home near Perry, Iowa at the age of 78. When Jerald was three years old his family moved from Berkley to a farm outside of Perry. He owned his own hay baling business while still in school. Jerald graduated from the Rippey High School in 1952 and then attended Telegraphy School in Denver, Colorado. On December 18, 1954 Jerald and Janet Kay Holmes were united in marriage at the Rippey United Methodist Church. They were later blessed with three children: Brenda, Clark and Bryan. Jerald worked as a depot agent and the couple lived in Des Plaines, IL and then Belvidere, IL before moving back to the farm in 1959. Besides farming Jerald partnered with Wilton Killam operating a portable feed grinder business and later as a carpenter with Mahlon Correy. Jerald retired from farming at age 62. He enjoyed his family, golfing, traveling and especially story telling. He also enjoyed playing cards, pool and coffee time at McDonald’s and the Masonic Lodge. He collected antique farm memorabilia and was an amazing dancer! He was a member of the Elmo Masonic Lodge in Rippey until it merged with the Otley Masonic Lodge in Perry and was a “Worshipful Master” several times in those lodges. He also was a member of the Lakeside Golf Course. Jerald was preceded in death by his parents Clark and Georgiana, brother-in-law Leonard; sister-in-law Ellen and his father and mother-in-law.
Jerald is survived by his wife Janet of rural Perry, a daughter Brenda Dobson (Russ) of Elkhart, Iowa; two sons: Clark Fessler (Lisa) of Perry and Bryan Fessler of Muscatine; seven grandchildren: Brittany Jungck (Michael), Nathan Dobson (Jamie), Casey Marshek (Luke), Jared Fessler, Jill Godby (Seth), Jenna Fessler and Taylor Cullum (Michael); 6 great-grandchildren; Wyatt, Silas and Moses Jungck; Jayden Cullum, Olivia Janet Marshek; and Aria Dobson; one sister Mary Jane McDowell of Copperas Cove, TX. and two sister-in-laws: Marilyn John (Ivan) of Ankeny and Cheryl Gardiner of Newton, along with other family and many friends.