Jerry Lee Jurasek

Jerry Lee Jurasek, 89, of Mason City, passed away peacefully Wednesday January 15, 2025, at the Good Shepherd Health Center in Mason City. Funeral services will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, 213 N Pennsylvania, at 10:30 a.m. on Friday January 24, 2025, with Rev. Dan Gerrietts officiating. A visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until the time of service. Interment will be held at Elmwood- St. Joseph Cemetery. Military Honors will be conducted by the Mason City Veteran’s Association. 

Jerry was born on March 28, 1935 in Mason City, Iowa to Frank and Francis (Martykan) Jurasek. He attended Roosevelt Elementary and Junior High Schools in Mason City, then moved to Mitchell, Iowa, where he graduated from high school in 1954. He joined the Air Force following high school and was stationed in Germany at Bitburg Air Base and Moses Lake Washington. He worked as a B52 mechanic and on the Matador missile team.

After being honorably discharged from the Air Force he returned to Mason City. He met his wife, Viola "Vi" Smeby on January 5, 1963 in Clear Lake, Iowa. The couple was married on October 26, 1963 at Grace Lutheran Church in Hanlontown, Iowa and lived in Mason City. In 1964 the couple welcomed their first child, Karen, to the world. Their first son, Kevin was born in 1966. Their final child, Kyle was stillborn in 1970. 

Jerry was a wonderful husband and father, attending the various school and extra-curricular activities of his children, and helped to coach little league many summers. The family took long camping trips each summer in their small Forester camper, with the trips usually including fishing at some point. Jerry loved fishing and golf and spent time enjoying these activities with family and friends. He was also a lifetime member of the local VFW Post 733 in Mason City and enjoyed meeting friends there to play cards and cribbage. Jerry and Vi bowled in the VFW league for many years and he participated in the VFW state bowling tournament several times.

Jerry worked for Gibbs Cook/Ziegler Caterpillar as a heavy equipment diesel mechanic for 35 years. He retired in 1997. After his wife retired in 1998, they took several trips every year, often going to Texas or Arizona for several weeks each winter. They also traveled to Florida, California, New England and many times to Branson, Missouri. Jerry was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church where he participated in choir, served as an usher, and as Sunday school assistant superintendent.

In 1999 he and his wife welcomed their grandson, Konner into the family, followed by their granddaughter Katelyn in 2002. Jerry adored his grandchildren and spent many hours with them. As he had with his children, he attended their football, basketball, baseball, softball and archery events as often as he possibly could. Jerry loved spending time with his extended family as well, attending family reunions and picnics several times a year.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 61 years, Viola; his daughter, Karen (Andy) Stewart, Blue Ridge, TX; his son, Kevin (Kriston) Jurasek, Johnston, IA; his grandson Konner (Lexi Dauner) Jurasek, Boise, ID; his granddaughter Katelyn Jurasek, Johnston, IA; in-laws, Wally and Criss Smeby, Glenn and Janet Smeby, and Linda Smeby, many nieces and nephews, and many cousins.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents, brother, several aunts and uncles, several in-laws, cousins, and his son, Kyle.

The family asks that memorials be made in Jerry's name to the I Want To Be Jan Again Foundation, Trinity 150, or your favorite charity.