Jerry L Patterson passed away at age 84 on February 27th, 2024 of medical issues.
He was born on January 25,1940 in his parents’ farmhouse near Dows, Iowa, the son of Terry “Ted” and Louise (Schott) Patterson.
Jerry had five older brothers, Don, Dean, Clint, Harlan, and Lee plus a younger brother, John, and a younger sister Joan. He had a very wonderful relationship with his mother, Louise, always speaking about how loving and special a mother she was, especially with 8 children.
Before high school, he attended a one-room country school of about a dozen kids which only had outdoor toilets. Later he attended Parkersburg High School, and then Jerry got a degree in math from the University of Northern Iowa in 1964.
In 1961, Jerry married Sue Nelson but later divorced. Jerry is survived by his children Kelly, Jack, and twins Adam and Amy along with 9 grandchildren.
Jerry’s work started with computers in Minneapolis, later a construction business building grain bins throughout the Midwest, managed a wholesale lumber company, then CAD drafting and CNC programming for a Chicago company that built pinball machines, air hockey tables, and other gaming cabinets.
From high school, his passion was woodworking as time permitted. In retirement, with the help of CAD, Jerry designed and sold hundreds of patterns to the online scroll saw companies. Also in retirement, Jerry spent a great deal of time studying the bible to learn and share the gospel of salvation that God gave Paul for us, that is largely mistaught in our churches today.
With medical issues growing, daughter Amy invited him to live with her in her Florida condo. He did, and was very thankful for the weather, the palm trees, and the care of a most loving daughter. He loved going to outdoor restaurants and was happy he got to wear shorts for the first time on his 84th birthday.
A memorial service is being planned for the near future.
One Response
I had the pleasure of meeting Jerry after he moved to Florida. He was such an intelligent, kind, and generous person. I’m so grateful I got the chance to know him.