Jerry White, 83

Jerry White, 83, of Keswick, Iowa passed away on Saturday, October 5, 2024 at the Manor House in Sigourney, Iowa.  Funeral mass will be held on Thursday, October 10, 2024 beginning at 10:00 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sigourney.  Burial will be held at the Sixteen Cemetery with a luncheon to follow at the Keswick Legion Hall.  Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 9, 2024 with the family present at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home in What Cheer from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the James Murphy American Legion, St. Mary’s Catholic Church or the Alzheimer’s Association.  Holland-Coble Funeral Home of What Cheer is in charge of the arrangements.

Jerry Francis White was born on February 1, 1941 at his grandmother’s farm house at Keswick, the son of Vaughn and Helen (Gregan) White.  He lost his battle with Alzheimer’s on October 5, 2024.

Jerry graduated from Tri-County North High, in Thornburg with the class of 1959.  He enlisted in the United States Air Force on January 24, 1962 and was honorably discharged on January 21, 1966.  

Jerry and Kathryn (Kathy) Mulert were married on November 29, 1969 at Sacred Heart Church in Dubuque.  He was a member of the former Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Keswick, St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sigourney, the James Murphy American Legion Post 319, Knights of Columbus, Harper, Iowa, and the Keokuk County Farm Bureau.  

Jerry is survived by his wife of 54 years, Kathy;  his brother, Joe (Diane) White of Athens, Georgia. His in-laws, Don Mulert, Jerry (Pat) Mulert, John Mulert, Linda (Dave) Gibbons, Mary Mulert, Marvin (Jodi) Mulert, Teresa (Randy) Sirk, Barb (Don) Dempsey, Teresa Lutes, and Margaret Blaylock.  He is also survived by a great-great nephew, Brayden Wood who held a special place in his heart as well as many, many more nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, John and Bill White; sister and husband, Kay and Kermit Elam; mother and father- in- law, Harold and Ida Mulert; sisters-in -law, JoAnn Mulert and Toni Mulert, and brother-in-law Richard Wemett.  

Jerry was a lifelong farmer.  He and Kathy enjoyed traveling around the United States, Canada, and numerous foreign countries.  They wintered for 15 years in Arizona at Sun Village making many dear friends.  During retirement, he enjoyed restoring Farmall tractors and going on tractor rides.

Jerry was very proud of his Irish ancestry.  The highlight of all his travels was the trip to Ireland.  While there, he visited with relatives who still live where his grandfather was born and raised.

Alzheimer’s robbed him of so much, but it never was able to totally rob him of his sense of humor.

A special thanks to Sherry for helping take care of him allowing him to stay at home as long as he did, and Manor House for the care they gave him the last 10 months.