Gerald A. Schacht

Friday, June 3, 2016 5:18 pm

Gerald A. Schacht, 83, of Decorah, passed away Wednesday, May 25, 2016, at his home. Memorial services were at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 31, at the Decorah Lutheran Church in Decorah, with Pastor Dave Sorenson officiating. Burial will be in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Lime Springs, at a later date. Hindt-Hudek Funeral Home of Cresco assisted the family.

Gerald Arthur Schacht was born June 13, 1932, in Cresco, to Arthur and Hilda (Wilken) Schacht. He was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Cresco. During high school he worked for his dad at Schacht Motor Company. He graduated from Cresco High School in 1951. Jerry worked for Rath Packing Company in Waterloo, before joining the Marine Corp in August of 1952. He was in the Marine Corp during the Korean War and was stationed at Cherry Point, N.C. until he was honorably discharged in August of 1955. He married Dorothy Anderson Oct. 30, 1955, at First Lutheran Church in Sioux Rapids. They resided in Decorah. Jerry worked at MacMaster’s Ford Garage from 1955 to 1966 and later opened Jerry’s Body Shop at 102 E Broadway in Decorah. In 1996 he was forced to move his business to Highway 9 East, which is currently operated by his son Duane. Jerry had numerous hobbies. He was involved in stock car racing in the mid ‘60s and had a successful run with his 55 Ford, No. 57. He loved four-wheeling at “The Valley” with family and friends. He also enjoyed vacationing in Colorado, canoeing and camping. Jerry adored his grandchildren and spent much of his time taking them to gun shows, helping them restore bikes and playing dominoes with them. Jerry loved animals and had several horses and labs throughout the years; “Duke” was his last and most faithful lab. In his later years he spent the majority of his time restoring military jeeps. He was an avid collector of everything and a seller of nothing!

He is survived by four children: Rhonda (Willet) Young, Audrey (Daniel) Fadness, Duane (Chris) Schacht all of Decorah, Gretchen Schacht (fiancé Phil Falcone) of North Arlington, N.J.; eight grandchildren: Shannon (Dan Fullhart), Jordan (Hannah), Justin, Ryan (fiancé Lexy Lloyd) Young all of Decorah, Amanda (Gregory) Winterhalter of Tulsa, Okla., Jake of Denver, Colo., Stephanie of Tulsa, Okla.  and Mitchell Fadness of Decorah; two great-grandchildren, Colton and Kinley Young; one brother, Dale (Carol) Schacht of Langhorne, Pa.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy, April 5, 1992; parents Arthur Henry Schacht in Oct. of 1969 and Hilda (Wilken) Schacht in Oct. of 1989; and granddaughter, Brittany Johnson Schacht, in Feb. of 1984.

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