Jerry M. Bahnsen

Jerry M. Bahnsen, 71 of Mason City, died, Monday, September 17, 2012 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, MN. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, September 21, 2012, at St. James Lutheran Church, 1148 – 4th St. S.E., with Pastor Paul Nelson, Pastor Jeni Bohls and Pastor David Anderson officiating. Visitation will be from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM on Thursday (September 20, 2012) at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue and also one hour prior to the services at the church on Friday. Interment will be in Elmwood-St. Joseph’s Cemetery with Military Honors performed by the Mason City Veterans Association. Memorials may be directed to the American Diabetes Association or the Jerry Bahnsen memorial fund in care of the family to be used toward Mason City Youth Hockey. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.majorericksonfuneralhome.com Jerry was born on a farm 6 miles west of Denison, Iowa on December 14, 1940. His family lived in Schleswig, Iowa from 1942-44 when they then moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa. Jerry attended all secondary schooling in Council Bluffs. Jerry attended Omaha University for one year and received his Associates Degree (Business) from North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City. He worked for Western Electric from 1959-68. Jerry was in the U.S. Army Security Agency for three years (1962-1965) as an Electric Technician; from 1969-70 was a Civilian Electronic Technician for the U.S. Army. In 1970 he went to work for the Federal Aviation Administration and retired in 2002 as a Communications and Navigations Electronic Technician-In-Depth. After retiring, he went to work for Parsons, INC. (five years) installing electronic equipment for the FAA as an Electronic Technician and a Resident Engineer (Inspector). Jerry worked for the Federal Government for 37 years. Jerry and Carol Sweetman were married in Council Bluffs, IA in May of 1966. They lived in Council Bluffs until 1968, then Granite City, IL from 1968-70, and then from 1970-72 in Olathe, KS, then to Mason City where they have been residents since 1972. Hockey was the sport that he really enjoyed (even though he didn’t skate). He was involved in the administration side for 15 years in Mason City Youth Hockey and 16 years in the Iowa High School Hockey League. He held almost every position on the board of directors of both organizations. He coached house league teams (MCYH) for a few years. His latest interest, in hockey, was working at helping Mason City build a multi-purpose building. Jerry was a member of St. James Lutheran Church and had served on the church council and head of the stewardship committee. He was the past member of the North Iowa Fair Association Board of Directors. He was also, a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose, lifetime member of the V.F.W., American Legion, V.P. of the local National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association. He was blessed with a loving wife, Carol of Mason City; two daughters, Christine Foth of Mason City, her daughter, Morgan and Frank Baltierra; her son, Aaron; Lynn Jansen of Norwalk, IA, her son, Josh; son, Brian Bahnsen and wife Michaelle of Des Moines, IA, their children, Joey and Jessica; granddaughter, Nadia Bahnsen; great-grandchildren, Tanna and Hunter Baltierra; several nieces and nephews, two brothers-in-law, two sisters-in-law; brother, Stan Bahnsen and wife Cindy of Florida; sister, Justene Wisemann and husband Dean; Tom and Ann Anderson (in-laws) of Garner, IA. Jerry enjoyed his family, watching sports on T.V. (especially the Green Bay Packers), doing repairs around the house, being with his friends, and working and playing with his computer. To relax he enjoyed visiting Diamond Jo Casino in Northwood, IA. He was preceded in death by his grandparents; parents, Raymond and Viola Bahnsen; mother and father-in-law, Charles and Wanda Sweetman and a younger sister, Shirley Bahnsen.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in Elmwood-St. Joseph’s Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the American Diabetes Association or the Jerry M. Bahnsen memorial fund in care of the family to be used toward Mason City Youth Hockey.

Visitation:
Visitation will be from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM on Thursday (September 20, 2012) at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue.

Service:
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, September 21, 2012, at St. James Lutheran Church, 1148 – 4th St. S.E., with Pastor Paul Nelson, Pastor Jeni Bohls and Pastor David Anderson officiating.