Jerry E. Samuelson

Sunday, October 13, 2019 5:46 pm

Jerry E. Samuelson, 80, of Decorah, died Friday, Oct.11, 2019, at home on his farm outside of Decorah, surrounded by his family and his dog, Sally. A memorial service was at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15, at the St. Benedict Catholic Church in Decorah, with Rev. Donald Hertges presiding. Burial was in the church cemetery. Visitation was from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14, at the Schluter-Balik Funeral Home, 604 South Ave in Decorah and also after 9:30 a.m., at the church Tuesday morning. The Schluter-Balik Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Mass of Christian Burial was at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15, at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Decorah, with Rev. Donald Hertges officiating. Organist was Mary Beth Bouska. Cantor was Cindy Schissel. Hymns were “Here I Am Lord,” “Gift of Finest Wheat,” “Taste and See” and “Let There Be Peace on Earth.” Lectors were Jessica Samuelson, Savanna Klimesh and Gayge Samuelson. Offertory gift bearers were Jerry’s grandchildren. Eucharistic ministers were Randy and Jan Samuelson, Sue Klimesh. Interment was at St. Benedict Cemetery, Decorah. Arrangements were handled by Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, Decorah.

Jerry Edward Samuelson was born Feb. 12, 1939, the son of Leif and Selma “Sally” (Jordahl) Samuelson, in rural Winneshiek County. He attended country school in Nordness Township and Ossian High School for a few years before graduating from Decorah High School in 1957. Jerry married Martha Willson Nov. 30, 1957, in Menominee, Mich., after traveling through a terrible snowstorm to get to the church. Together they had seven children: Ricky, Susan, Randy, Rusty, Jerry Joe, Jay Edward and Marty. After they were married, they lived in Appleton, Wis., for a short time and then moved back to the Decorah area. Jerry pursued farming and also worked at Thornton’s Feed & Grain for many years and lived on his parents’ farm in Glenwood Township until he and Martha purchased their home farm in Pleasant Township in 1972. Jerry eventually decided to go farming full time and had a dairy operation and beef herd for many years. The dairy herd was sold in 2000 and Jerry pursued his love of raising Angus beef. Jerry also worked for a few years at Deco Manufacturing in Decorah while the Angus beef herd continued to expand. While their children were growing up at home, the family activities consisted of riding horses on the farm and going on trail rides with many horses loaded in the back of Thornton’s Feed trucks. He loved working with his children on 4-H livestock and horse projects. Jerry’s children and grandchildren have received multiple Grand Champion and Reserve Champion awards over the years. Jerry also enjoyed coon hunting and any other hunting “in season” and watching his children in sports activities, of which football and wrestling were his favorites. Jerry was also on a bowling team for a few years. Jerry’s favorite TV channel was ESPN and he followed the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Green Bay Packers.

Jerry’s love of cattle, horses, sports and hunting is being carried on in his children and grandchildren’s lives.

Jerry received the 1995 Progressive Dairyman Award and the 2009 Winneshiek County “Pioneer” Cattleman Award. His beef operation was featured in the Decorah Newspapers’ annual “beef promotion edition. At the Winneshiek County Fair in 2012, Jerry was awarded the “Breeder of the Champion Market Heifer” and in 2017, received the “Breeder of the Highest Rate of Gain Steer of Local Origin” award. He was a member of the Winneshiek County Cattleman and St. Benedict Catholic Church.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 62 years: Martha; six children: Ricky (Angie) Samuelson, Traer; Susan (Loren “Odie”) Klimesh, Ridgeway; Randy (Jan) Samuelson, Phelps, Wis.; Rusty (Rosalyn) Samuelson, Decorah; Jerry Joe (Tracy) Samuelson, Decorah; and Marty Samuelson, Decorah; 15 grandchildren: Andrew, Brooke, Brittanee, Savanna, Sierra, Cade, Jessica, Jennifer, Ross, Jackie, Reece, Riley, Gavyn, Gayge (Teeya), Kirstyn; and two step-grandchildren, Leah and Noah; one great-granddaughter, Payton; brother, Darrel Samuelson, Decorah; brothers and sisters-in-law: Gordon (Dorothy) Willson, Rice Lake, Wis., Marian (Al) Schissel, Rice Lake, Wis. and Dennis (Mary) Willson, Marion; along with many nieces and nephews.

Jerry was preceded in death by his son, Jay Edward Samuelson, in infancy; parents, Leif and Selma “Sally” Samuelson; father and mother-in-law, Leo and Mary (Hyberger) Willson; sisters and brothers-in-law: Rita (Robert) Lansing; Madelyn (Wilbur) Wise; Gretchen (Claude) Bucheit and Kathy Willson; niece, Ruthie Wise.