OBITUARY: Gerald (Jerry) Sherwood Schotanus, 1928-2004, Mitchell Co., Iowa

[Adapted from Mitchell County Press online, Feb. 4, 2004]



                    Gerald (Jerry) Sherwood Schotanus

Funeral services for Gerald (Jerry) Sherwood Schotanus, 76, of St. Ansgar,
were held on Monday, Feb. 2, 2004 at 1:30 PM at Immanuel Lutheran Church,
St. Ansgar, Iowa, with Rev. Byron Northwick officiating. Burial was in
the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery. Jerry died Friday, Jan. 30, 2004 at
Mitchell County Regional Health Center, Osage, Iowa, after battling
cancer for 8 months.

Gerald (Jerry) Sherwood Schotanus was born January 3, 1928, in Iowa Falls,
Iowa, the son of Jacob and Sietske (Streenstra) Schotanus. Jerry attended
rural school near Mason City; Spring Valley Country School near St. Ansgar;
St. Ansgar High School; and graduated from Grafton High School in 1946.

Jerry was united in marriage to Marilyn Hoeft on January 11, 1953 in Ventura,
Iowa.  After serving in the army during the Korean War, they lived and
farmed, both grain and livestock in the St. Ansgar-Carpenter area until
his death. He also drove truck part-time for Ruan for several years.

Jerry was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in St. Ansgar where he
served as trustee for 20 years, held numerous offices in LLL Men's Club,
and Friendship Club. He also was active in the Carpenter Community Club,
was on the school board in both the Carpenter and St. Ansgar school
districts. He served as secretary-treasurer of Lions Club for many
years and in 2003 received the Melvin Jones Fellowship for his
dedicated humanitarian services. Jerry and Marilyn were host parents
for four students in the International Foreign Exchange Student program.

Jerry enjoyed being outdoors and caring for his livestock and pets. He
also enjoyed dancing with Marilyn at the Surf ballroom and the Carpenter
Community Club (where he was known as the popcorn man). They traveled
to Europe several times and enjoyed visiting with Jerry's cousins in
the Netherlands and their foreign exchange student families throughout
Europe. He enjoyed spending time with his family, especially taking them to the Minnesota Twins ball games, playing cribbage, checkers and Go Fish. Attending school activites for his children and grandchildren was an important part of his life.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 51 years, Marilyn; daughters,
Sheila Schaefer and husband Harlan of Ellsworth; Sheryl Haer and husband
Johnny of Craig, Michigan; son Gary Schotanus and wife Linda of Grafton,
Kornel Romand who joined our family from Slovakia in 1994 and his wife
Jennifer of Fort Worth, Texas. Seven grandchildren, Jacob and Jason
Schaefer, Luke Aaron and Jill Haer, and Nicole and Kyle Schotanus; one
sister, Laura Helm of Plymouth, two brothers Clyde of St. Ansgar, and
Jack of Grafton; also numerous nieces and nephews; as well as other
relatives, including cousins in the Netherlands and friends. Extended
family members include: Berend Pastoor, Janneke and Arjan of the
Netherlands; Peter Osce and Valerie of Belgium; and Juia Ganieva of
Uzbekistan.

Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar, Iowa, was in charge
of arrangements. (641) 713-4920.


    Copyright 2004, K.L. Kittleson