December 18, 1935 – January 10, 2025
Jerome “Jerry” L. Waskow, 89, of Sumner, died Friday, January 10, 2025, at the Hillcrest Home in Sumner.
Funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM, Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at St. John Lutheran Church in Sumner with Rev. Tracy Hinkel officiating. Interment will follow at St. John Lutheran Church Cemetery, rural Sumner. Visitation will be from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Monday, January 13th at St. John Lutheran Church and for one hour preceding services at the Church on Tuesday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Jerry’s name to St. John Lutheran Church, Community Memorial Hospital, both in Sumner, or Care Initiatives Hospice.
Jerome Lee, son of Claude and Ruth (Duhrkopf) Waskow was born December 18, 1935, at the family home in Clocktower Building, Sumner, Iowa. He was baptized at St. John Lutheran Church in Sumner. Jerry’s parents operated I.G.A. Grocery Stores while he was growing up, so the family lived in Illinois and eastern Iowa, prior to returning to Sumner for Jerry’s junior year of high school. He was a standout basketball player known for his dunking abilities and was a successful football player and track athlete in high school. Following graduation from Sumner High School in 1953, Jerry continued his education and athletic career at Upper Iowa University in Fayette. On February 12, 1956, at the Little Brown Church, near Nashua, he was united in marriage with Cecelia McLavey. To this union four children were born, Craig, David, Kevin and Michelle. Jerry began working at the United States Postal Service in 1959, and following a thirty-three year career, retired in 1992. In addition, he drove school bus for the Sumner Community School District for twenty years. He also tended bar at Snyder’s Tap, installed carpet, renovated homes, and was on the groundskeeper crew at Meadowbrook Country Club. Jerry was a long-time member of St. John Lutheran Church in Sumner, where he served on both the Church Council and Cemetery Board and served as Deacon. He was also a member of the local Jaycees and helped run the Sumner Theater throughout the 1960’s. He enjoyed golfing, woodworking, camping, playing cards, and bowling where he served as secretary in a local bowling league.
Jerry is survived by his wife, Cecelia of Sumner; four children, Craig (Nancy) Waskow of Union Valley, Texas, David (Cheryl) Waskow of Sumner, Kevin (Laurie Heyer) Waskow of Boise, Idaho, and Michelle (Brent) Patterson of Vinton; eight grandchildren, Jennifer (Joe) McGinn, Justin (Megan) Waskow, Beth (Josh) Hauser, Brian (Kayla) Waskow, Brock (Sarah) Waskow, Trevor (Lauren) Waskow, Seth Patterson, and Brynn Patterson; several step-grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Sheila (Ron) Corbin of Arlington and Verna (Rod) Corbin of Arlington; nephew, Leslie Hanson of Lena, Illinois, along with several other nieces and nephews; and many cousins and extended family members.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Margy Hanson and niece, Rosalie Hanson.
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