Jean Marjorie Gerdis, 86, of Algona, died Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at Good Samaritan Society in Algona.
Jean was born February 21, 1940, in Whittemore to Edward Kuecker and Ida Siems. She was the youngest of 10 children and grew up in the North Iowa area.
As a child, Jean first attended a rural country school near her home before continuing her education at Immanuel Lutheran Parochial School near Lone Rock.
She later attended Algona Public School and graduated in 1957.
According to her obituary, Jean was especially strong in business subjects, including typing, shorthand and bookkeeping. Before graduation, she began working part time at Druggist Mutual, and that job became full time after she finished school.
Jean worked there for about a year before meeting Donald Gerdis.
The couple married June 7, 1959, and later settled in Titonka, where they raised three sons, David, Timothy and Matthew.
Jean became deeply involved in the family business.
While raising their children, she also handled bookkeeping duties for Don’s growing fuel delivery company, Gerdis Oil Company.
After the couple sold that business, they began a new venture called Wood By Us.
Together, Jean and Don designed, cut, stained and painted wooden products and traveled to craft shows across the country, from Arizona to Michigan.
Their business eventually led them to a unique new home and storefront.
In 1999, the couple purchased the former post office building in Algona, where they could both live and operate their shop.
What was expected to be a short final chapter before retirement turned into many more years of work and creativity.
Customers began coming directly to the Algona shop instead of Jean and Don traveling to craft shows, and the couple continued operating the business for about 25 years before retiring.
They remained living in the old post office building afterward.
Jean is survived by her brother, Gerald; sons David, Timothy and Matthew; and granddaughters Elizabeth Wendl and her husband, Kurt, and Emma Pelzer and her husband, Tanner.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Ida; husband, Donald; brothers Delbert, Kenneth, Kermit, Willis and Richard; and sisters Lois, Gertrude and Lucille.
Visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday, July 20, 2026, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 520 North Garfield Street in Algona.
A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. at the church and is scheduled to continue until approximately 11:45 a.m.
Inurnment will take place at Buffalo Township Cemetery in Titonka.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to the Boone Area Humane Society.
Lentz Funeral Home of Algona is handling arrangements. To read more and see the full obituary, please click here.
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