Eldon Gerard, 88, of Grinnell died August 12, 2009, at St. Francis Manor in Grinnell.
Funeral services are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Saturday, August 15, at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell with Pastor Dan Ver Woord officiating. Organist will be David Gerard and vocalist Rhonda Minner. Pallbearers will be David and Jerry Barns, Daniel Bragg, Roger Gerard, Kyle Hadley, and Jason Roush. Honorary Bearers will be Bill Belcher, Carroll Gerard, Dennis, Jim and Richard Parrott, John C. Roush, Wayne Sadler, and Bob Teed. Burial will be in Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell.
Visitation will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Grinnell Regional Hospice or St. Francis Manor.
Eldon was born November 21, 1920, on the family farm near Ewart, the son of Charley and Ivy Enola McMains Gerard. He was raised on the farm and attended rural school near his home. He later, at the age of 75, received his G.E.D. and was very proud and honored to achieve that accomplishment. He was a veteran of the United States Army Air Force during World War II and was a B-17 mechanic while stationed in England.
On October 23, 1945, he was united in marriage to Naomi Brooks, at the Brooks family home, rural Grinnell. He owned and operated Gerard Feed Store for 33 years and later worked as a mechanic at Lavern’s Repair Shop for several years. He then was the maintenance and housekeeping manager at Brookhaven Nursing Home in Brooklyn for 10 years and retired December 27, 1990.
Eldon was a member of the First Assembly of God church in Grinnell where he served as Deacon for 38 years and Leader of the Song service for 30 years. He was a born again Christian at a young age and lived the faith all his life. He loved his life on the farm, working with farm machinery and livestock, including raising Belgium horses. He enjoyed gardening, reading, attending auctions, and traveling. He held a passion for railroad and farm steam engines and particularly enjoyed attending the Old Threshers Reunion in Mt. Pleasant.
Survivors include his wife, Naomi of Grinnell; two daughters Lavon Roush of Kansas City, Missouri and Linda (Jerry) Barns of Grinnell; one brother Emil Gerard of Omaha, Nebraska; four grandchildren John and Jason Roush of Kansas City, David Barns of Grinnell; and Julie Hadley of Waldorf, Maryland; four great-grandchildren, Cortney, Joshua, Drew and Michael; and a step-great-grandson, Jeremiah. He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Paul, Harold, Homer, and Clifford Gerard; and one sister, Vergie Peters.
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