Gerald (Jerry) Carman, age 94, passed away Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at St Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minn.
Jerry was born January 27, 1930, to Virgil and Cecilia (Hronek) Carman in Pocahontas County, Iowa. He attended grade school in Pioneer and high school in Gilmore City.
Jerry farmed with his brothers and father on their farm near Pioneer, Iowa. He was drafted and entered into the Army on September 24, 1952 and served two years during the Korean War as a Corporal in the Signal Corps having learned teletype and Morse code. He was stationed in Incheon, Korea with the Airground Liaison group handling all messages from the front lines and decoding messages of all kinds.
He was united in marriage to Marcia Martens on June 1, 1952, at St John’s Lutheran Church. They were blessed with five children: Carol, Billy, Mark, Cathy and Caren; 18 grandchildren: Lyndsey, Mitch, Brandy, Ben, Billie Jo, Jeff, Paul, Chris, Nate, Kellie, Wesley, Kari, Matthew, Carmen, Zach, Talia, Kody and Chelsy; 14 great-grandchildren: Breck, Esme, Aksel, Payton, Alaina, Brock, Wade, William, Jack, Charlie, Adalyn, Willow, Hendrix and Halen.
Following his honorable discharge in August 1954, Gerald and Marcia moved to a farm north of Ostrander, Minn. Not only a grain farmer, he also raised beef cattle, hogs, and chickens. In 1970, they moved into Grand Meadow, but he continued to farm into his 80s.”
Jerry loved and raised quarter horses most of his life. He was an active member of the Grand Meadiw Saddle Club and the Mower County Mounted Posse and loved going to horse sales and rodeos. He was an active member of both Grand Meadow Lutheran and Bear Creek Lutheran Churches.
Jerry and Marcia traveled on many trips together and loved their time in Arizona visiting friends. He spent the last few years with special companion, Jean. They enjoyed bingo, watching sports, traveling and spending time together.
He also loved auctions, sale barns, gardening, fishing trips and spending time with family, friends and grandkids and visiting with just about anyone he met.
Jerry was a very proud veteran of his time spent serving during the Korean War, and was a member of the Grand Meadow American Legion. He also joined the Korean War Veterans Club in Rochester, Minn., and frequently joined them for Monday breakfasts. He participated in the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. in 2018 with grandson Christopher.
Jerry is survived by his children Carol (Craig) Stier, Mark (Kathy) Carman, Cathy (Dan) Koball, Caren (Doug) Swanson and daughter-in-law Brenda Carman, all of Grand Meadow; 18 beloved grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, siblings Dorothy Christensen of Grand Meadow, Eugene (Judy) Carman of Cresco Iowa, Dale Carman of Fort Dodge Iowa, sister in law Mary Ann Carman of Humboldt Iowa; Marcia’s siblings Chuck (JoAnn) Martens of Clear Lake, Iowa, Mary (Gordon) Shipler-Oleson of Burt, Iowa, and Richard (Shiela) Martens of Lime Springs Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, wife Marcia in 2020, son Billy, sisters Doris Troxel and Jean Ahart, brother Virgil Carman, sisters-in-law Donna Carman and Darlene Brennan, brothers-in-law Stanley Troxel, Arvin Christensen, Bill Ahart, Dick Brennan, Tom Herrick and Denny Shipler.
The family of Jerry Carman would like to thank all friends and family for all their prayers and well wishes, phone calls and visits.
Funeral services for Gerald were held 1 p.m. Friday, May 17, 2024, at the Grand Meadow Lutheran Church in Grand Meadow. Burial took place in the Grand Meadow cemetery.
Condolences may be left at www.Hindtfuneralhomes.com.
Leave a Reply