Gerald Pedersen Osceola

Gerald Lee Pedersen, son of Marius Pedersen and Elizabeth Ann (Roberts) Pedersen, was born June 17, 1927, in Hopeville, Iowa and passed from this life Sunday, May 3, 2015, at Westview Acres Care Center at 87 years of age.

Gerald received his education in Osceola graduating from the Osceola High School in 1945. He was united in marriage to Mary Margaret Burley on January 18, 1947 at St. Bernard Catholic Church Rectory and five children, Diane, Pat, Terry, David and Jon blessed this union. Gerald and Mary have the distinction of being the longest married couple in their church after celebrating their sixty-eighth wedding anniversary.

Soon after their marriage, Gerald and Mary purchased a farm east of Osceola where they have lived, worked and raised their family for sixty-seven years.

Gerald was a devoted member of St. Bernard Catholic Church in Osceola where he served in many capacities including one of the founding members of the St. Bernard Knights of Columbus Council #8702. He also served his community as a 4-H Leader with the Osceola Go Getters, was one of the original members of the Clarke County Rural Water District #1; served several years on the Clarke Community School Board; the Clarke Community and Central Decatur Booster Clubs and was very instrumental in helping to raise funds for the lighting on the Osceola Little League and High School baseball fields.

Down time for Gerald included his flower and vegetable gardens, square-dancing with the Doceola Square Dance Club in earlier years, watching the Cubs as well as other sports and following his children and grandchildren and their many activities over the years. He also enjoyed playing Pitch and even considered himself a pretty good self-taught cook.

Those relatives who preceded Gerald in death were his parents; sisters, Marie Diehl, Irene Young, Mildred Morris; brother, George Pedersen, sister-in-law, Elizabeth Pedersen, brothers-in-law, Richard Young, Bernard Paul Diehl, Harold Morris, Forrest Bear; brother and sister-in-laws, Bud and Bernadine Burley, Elma and Paul German; granddaughter, Kylee Pedersen.

Gerald leaves to cherish his memory; wife, Mary Pedersen of Leon, IA; daughters, Diane (Wayne) Holst of Bettendorf, IA, Pat Pedersen of Minneapolis, MN; sons, Terry (Sandy Sporrer) Pedersen of Mitchellville, IA, David (Rita Harmening) Pedersen of Jefferson, IA, Jon (Julie Archer) Pedersen of Leon, IA, Grandchildren, Mindy Miller, Kerri (David) Bishop, Kody Pedersen, Paige (Chris) Hanson, Keith (Mary Swanson) Pedersen, Adam Pedersen, Reed (Megan Nuehring) Pedersen, Preston (financé Emily Savely) Pedersen, Peyton Pedersen, Cole Pedersen; great-grandchildren, Emma Miller, Dylan Miller, Delaney Pedersen, Samantha Pedersen and Jackson Bishop; sister-in-law, Maxine Bear of St. Paul, MN, sister-in-law, Mary Ethel Burley of Atchison, KS, sister-in-law, Jo (Jim) Mitchell of Overland Park, KS, brother-in-law, Richard (Betty) Burley of Maywood, CA, as well as other relatives and many friends.

Services will be held at St. Bernard Catholic Church, Thursday May 7, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. with Father David Polich officiating.

The family will greet friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 6, 2015 at Kale Funeral Home with a Vigil at 7:30 p.m.

Interment will be in the Maple Hill Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be directed to St. Bernard’s Knights of Columbus or Terrace Park Assisted Living.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.kalefuneralhome.com.