Jerry Ray Deist

Jerry Ray Deist, the son of Allison J. and Ollivene F. (Kauffman) Deist, was born September 7, 1942, in Carroll, Iowa and died November 11, 2016, at the Mercy Hospital Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa at the age of 74 years, 2 months, and 4 days.
Jerry was baptized and confirmed at the Ross Evangelical United Brethren Church in Ross, Iowa. He attended rural school in Cameron Township then graduated from the Audubon High School with the Class of 1960. During High School and after graduation he was employed by Farm Service for several years. Jerry then became a welder for Emmert Manufacturing.
On November 10, 1962, he was united in marriage to Margie Olson at the Ross Evangelical United Brethren Church in Ross, Iowa. They were blessed with three sons Scott, Stacey, and Shawn. Jerry continued working for Emmert Manufacturing for several more years then rented some land and farmed with his father. They grew row crops, milked a dairy herd, raised stock cattle and had a farrow to finish hog operation. He farmed for many years and purchased the family farm in the mid 1990’s. Jerry semi-retired from farming and has worked for G&L Lawn and Landscapes which later became Danner/G &L Landscapes for over twenty years. He also operated his own custom baling business.
Jerry was a member of the Ross Calvary United Methodist Church in Ross, Iowa. He was a member of the Farm Bureau and the Cameron Township President. He was instrumental in establishing the rural water in the Cameron Township area. Jerry enjoyed working on his tractors and keeping all his equipment in tip top condition. His pride and joy was his Farmall Super H tractor which he owned when he was very young and kept it in good running order so that his sons and grandchildren could enjoy it. Jerry never met a stranger and enjoyed going to the gas station and having coffee with his many friends. But most of all he enjoyed being with his family. He especially loved being with his grandchildren.
Preceding him in death were his parents Allison and Ollivene Deist; his father-in-law and mother-in-law Lynn and Wilma Olson; his brother John Paul Deist; his sister Mary and husband Roger Winther; his brothers-in-law Willis Olson, Rick Olson, and Leroy Christensen; and his nephews Brent Jenkins, and Jimmy Allison.
Survivors include his wife Margie Deist of Audubon, Iowa; his sons Scott and wife Tricia Deist of Audubon, Stacey Deist of Polk City, Iowa, and Shawn Deist of Audubon; his grandchildren Caleb Deist, Brock Deist, Megan Deist, Wyatt Deist and special friend Taylor Hart, Dustin Deist all of Audubon, Iowa Ayden Deist and Brenden Deist both of Indianola, Iowa; his brother Ivan Deist of Audubon; his sister Dottie and husband Dan Brownsbuger of Oakland, Iowa; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Cathy and husband Gary Hobbs of Pleasant Hill, Iowa, Nadine Christensen of Audubon, Iowa, Mary and husband Norman Eiben of Herndon, Virginia, Lynette and husband Gary Nichols of Dallas Center, Iowa, Joyce and husband John Jenkins of Exira, Iowa, Rita and husband Bob Mowen of Denver North Carolina, Becky and husband Neil Naberhaus of Jefferson, Iowa, Rob and wife Diane Olson of Columbus Junction, Iowa, Ron Olson of Casey, Iowa, Carlene Deist and Diana Deist both of Audubon, Iowa; numerous nieces, nephews other relatives and many friends.
The family will meet with friends on Wednesday evening, November 16, 2016, at 5:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa. Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Steven Daiker and Pastor Kathy Kluis on Thursday afternoon November 17, 2016, at 2:00 P.M. at the First United Methodist Church in Audubon, Iowa. Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon, Iowa. The honorary casket bearers will be his grandchildren Caleb Deist, Megan Deist, Brock Deist, Wyatt Deist, Dustin Deist, Ayden Deist, and Brenden Deist. The casket bearers will be Doug Christensen, Frederick Sievers, Brent Bauer, LaVerne Deist, Duane Deist, Eugene Alt, Earl Blohm, and Bernard Christensen,