Gerald F. "Jerry" Monroe, 75, of De Soto, died January 3, 2014, at the VA Central Health Care System in Des Moines. Funeral services are scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Thursday, January 9, 2014, at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell, with Rev. Rick Magstadt, Grace Community Church, officiating. Don Sardeson will play the fiddle and Rick McCampbell will be a vocalist. Pallbearers will be members of the Adel Masonic Lodge #80. Honorary bearers will be Frank Coulter and Don Sardeson. Burial will be in Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell. Visitation will be held two hours prior to service time (11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Thursday) at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Iowa Scottish Rite Mason Foundation Children's Speech Therapy or Shriners Children's Hospital. Jerry was born December 22, 1938, in Washington, Iowa, the son of Clifford and Nellie (Askea) Monroe. He was raised in Grinnell and was a 1957 graduate of Grinnell High School. He was a veteran of the United States Army during the post Korean Conflict and was honorably discharged in 1964. Jerry lived in De Soto for many years and was employed at Ziegler Cat in Altoona for 40 years. He was a long-time member of the Masonic Lodge and was very active, recently serving as Grand Tyler for the Grand Lodge of Iowa. He also served as District Lecturer for the State of Iowa Masons and earned the 33rd Degree Consistory in 1996. Jerry enjoyed his activities in the lodge and sharing time with his family and Shirley. He enjoyed bike riding; playing dominoes; and many other interests. He was very caring and helpful to others and had a big heart and a great sense of humor! Survivors include his best friend, Shirley VanDeventer of Adel; one sister, Pat Guckert of Grinnell; two brothers, Jim (Linda) Monroe of Cedar Rapids and Steve (Kim DiMaria) Monroe of Des Moines; and several nieces and nephews, whom he loved very much. He was preceded in death by his parents.