Gerald Erickson

South Sioux City, Nebraska -- Gerald K. Erickson of South Sioux City, Nebraska, entered into eternal rest on Thursday, February 11, 2016 at Regency Square Care in South Sioux City, Nebraska, under the loving care of Hospice at the age of 83.

Memorial Service will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 16, 2016 at Faith United Presbyterian Church (formerly Morningside Presbyterian) in Sioux City with Rev. David Koehler officiating. The Porter Funeral Home in Hawarden, Iowa is assisting the family. Condolences may be sent to www.porterfuneralhomes.com.

The family prefers in lieu of flowers, memorials be given to the Faith United Presbyterian Church or Hospice of Siouxland in Gerald’s name.

Gerald was born to Emil and Ruby (Anderson) Erickson on October 2, 1932 on the farm near Lyons, Nebraska. He attended Jefferson Country School and went on to the Lyons High School. When his family moved to Hawarden, Iowa he finished and graduated from Hawarden High School in 1950.

Gerald enlisted into the US Army and worked as a Company Clerk to the Battery Commander. Upon coming home, he and his dad farmed in partnership near Chatsworth, Iowa. On January 5, 1964, Gerald and Marilyn Berg of Hawarden were married. They purchased and operated the Chatsworth General Store for 10 years. This was a country grocery store and an egg buying business, where they picked up farm eggs, candled them, and sold them to M.J.R. Hakes of Laurens, Iowa. They also sold to a number of Hawarden grocery stores. Along with all of this, the store was the Chatsworth Rural Post Office Station under the Hawarden Post Office. Gerald drove a school bus for West Sioux Schools as well as working part time at the Hawarden Post Office. He also had time for fun-- playing softball, bowling, managing a ladies’ softball team, and also took up golf.

When they sold the business in Chatsworth they moved to Hawarden where Gerald worked as a letter carrier until his transfer in 1977 to Sioux City, where he worked for the Postal Service until his retirement in 1992.

Gerald and Marilyn were members of the Associated Church in Hawarden where he was active in serving on boards and duties there. He was also a member of the Hawarden Masonic Lodge where he was Master a number of times. They were also active in the Hawarden Order of Eastern Star, where he served in The East as Worthy Patron beside Marilyn, the Worthy Matron.

After the move to Sioux City, Gerald and Marilyn became active in the life of the church at Morningside Presbyterian. Gerald served as financial secretary for more than 15 years and was honored at Co-Presbyterian of the year in 2007. Gerald and Marilyn took many enjoyable trips and loved spending time with the rest of the family. Golfing together was best of all! Even with no children of their own, the nieces and nephew kept them involved in family fun and sometimes that was a special golf match. Gerald always loved to watch sports on TV, always cheering for his beloved Iowa Hawkeyes and his “Cubs”!

Gerald is survived by his wife Marilyn, of 52 years; a sister-in-law, Florence; nephew, Rick Erickson and wife Starla; and 10 nieces, Carolyn Miller (Mike), Diana Heyburn, Gloria Erickson, Patty Hanselman (Paul), Jeanette Keogh (Ron), Connie Hasemann (Keith), Barbara Rippe (Mark), Eloise Nawrocki (Phil), Donna Bristol, and Valerie Kwasniewski (Jim).

Gerald was preceded in death by his parents, Emil and Ruby Erickson; 2 beloved brothers, Garland Erickson and Gordon Erickson; a nephew, Gordon Erickson, Jr. and his wife Julie, as well as a number of cousins.

Memorial Service