Friday, October 14, 2016 3:30 pm
Jerry Dean, 55, of Decorah, passed away, after a six-year battle with cancer, Friday, Sept. 30, 2016, at Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah. A memorial celebration of life service is at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16, at Decorah High School auditorium, with Pastor Dave Sorenson officiating. Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at fjelstul.com.
Jerry was born Aug. 10, 1961, in Fort Worth, Texas. He grew up in central Iowa. He attended Gilbert Elementary School and graduated from Boone High School in 1979. He attended Iowa State University and majored in architecture. He participated and headed the Iowa State drumline for many years. He worked at Perkins Restaurant in Ames, while attending college. He later opened and managed Buzzard Billy’s in La Crosse, Wis. In 2002 he owned and managed Americana Grille in Decorah. Jerry was a big Iowa State Cyclones fan. He attended many football games and drumline contests. He wrote music for drum solos and drumlines. When he could find the time, he enjoyed playing golf and tennis. Jerry was a gifted drummer and dedicated much of his time to the Decorah High School drumline.
JD is survived by his father and step-mother, Harold “Tex” and Nancy Dean of Boone; his sister, Wendy Fergusson of Orangevale, Calif.; his niece, Katrina Fergusson; three step-brothers: Jeff (Linda) Sunstrom, Mike Sunstrom and Ron (Lisa) Sunstrom, all of Boone; one step-sister, Marsha (Brian) Morris of Cottage Grove, Minn.; one aunt, Annette (Richard) Steinfels of Fort Worth, Texas; one cousin, Denise Werkmeister and her family – Jesse Werkmeister, Dakota Werkmeister and Sierra Werkmeister.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Cora Lee Wilson; cousin, Dennis McLaughlin; maternal grandmother, Roma Wilson; and paternal grandparents, Harold and Margaret Dean.
Memorials can be given to the Decorah High School Drumline, c/o Decorah High School, 100 Claiborne Drive, Decorah, IA 52101.
He was an inspiration to many people and will be dearly missed!
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