Gerald Pelzer

Gerald Pelzer, 97, of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away Saturday, October 31, 2009, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic.

Gerald Will Pelzer was born October 19, 1912, the son of Frank and Mary (Borth) Pelzer on the family home, north of Marne, Iowa. While growing up on the farm, he attended school at Brighton Township #2.

He built the filling station in Marne in 1937, then left in 1941 to work as a carpenter in Colorado on a government project building barracks. On April 9, 1939, he was married to Eva Lucille Williamson in Beatrice, Nebraska. In July 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy Seabee's serving 2 ½ years in the Pacific. After being discharged on Thanksgiving Day 1944, he returned to Atlantic. In 1945, Gerald and Lucille moved to Council Bluffs where he continued working as a carpenter. In April of 1955 they purchased a motel in Idaho Springs, Colorado, which they operated for 10 years. The family continued living in Colorado until Gerald's retirement in 1991, when they returned to Atlantic.

Gerald became a member of the Marne Methodist Church in 1936, and later joined the United Church of Christ in Atlantic. He was a member of VFW 3415, the American Legion, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, and of the Carpenters Union #55. In his spare time, he enjoyed working with wood, making things for his family, playing games and socializing.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Mary Pelzer; his brothers, Oliver, Arthur, Charlie, Maurice and Albert Pelzer; and his sister, Elsie McCord.

Survivors include his wife, Lucille of Atlantic; his daughter, Roselie (Thomas) Pelzer-Bambrey of West Lafayette, Indiana; his sons, Robert (Karen) Pelzer of Thornton, Colorado, and Jerry (Ute) Pelzer of Vista, California; his grandchildren, Scott Pelzer of San Francisco, California, Carrissa (Matthew) Sturgeon of Columbus, Ohio, Christina Pelzer of Vista, California, Tara (Andrew) Jecklin of Eugene, Oregon, and Jamie (Johanna) Bambrey of Bailey, Colorado and his great-granddaughter, Brianna Rose Jecklin of Eugene, Oregon.

Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, November 19, 2009, at 10:30 a.m., with a visitation one hour prior to the service, at the United Church of Christ in Atlantic.

Burial will be in the Brighton Township Cemetery in Marne, Iowa.

Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, Iowa, is in charge of arrangements.