Jerry Chester Ayers (2021)

ACKELSON, AYERS, CARTER, CRABTREE, HARRIS, MINNICH, NELSON, WHEELER

Posted By: Shirley Keating
Date: 11/8/2023 at 18:03:13

Kale Funeral Home
Osceola, Iowa

Jerry Ayers

Jerry Chester Ayers, son of H. Mart Ayers and Thressa (Wheeler) Ayers was born November 17, 1937 in Bagley, Iowa and passed from this life Sunday, July 18, 2021 at Iowa Methodist Medical Center at 83 years of age.

He received his early elementary education in Bagley, Iowa. His family moved to the St. Charles area in his youth and he graduated from St. Charles High School.

He was united in marriage to Shirley A. (Nelson) Ayers in the spring of 1957 at the Christian Church in St. Charles, Iowa. Four children, Rhonda, Ron, Mike and Jason blessed this union.

Jerry spent his life doing what he loved working the land on his farm near St. Charles. In 1977, he opened Jerry's Lounge in St. Charles which soon became a favorite gathering place for many of the locals in the community, highlighted by the infamous Tugs of War in 1981 and 1982. A career move in 1981 led Jerry to start the JCA Express Trucking Company which he operated for nine years.

As a lifelong horseman, Jerry began raising Draft Horses and used them to pull Draft Wagons in many parades over the years. Soon after the opening of Prairie Meadows Race Track in Des Moines, Jerry began raising thoroughbred horses to be used for racing. This led to a successful career in horse racing and also led to being the winner of one of Prairie Meadows biggest events, the inaugural race "The Donna Reed Stakes" as well as the "Ralph Hayes Stakes Race".

Jerry was involved in his community serving as a Madison County Supervisor for 2 years. He had an insatiable appetite for any sporting event. He was especially fond of the Iowa Hawkeyes but was an Iowa State Fan too. He was an avid trapper and hunter in earlier years and quite possibly ranked second to none.

Those relatives who preceded Jerry in death were his parents, H. Mart and Thressa Ayers; wife, Shirley Ayers; siblings, John Martin Ayers, Jim Harris, Joe Harris, Mary Lou Carter and Lois Ackelson; his beloved nephew Greg Ayers, and longtime beloved partner and best friend, Marilyn Young.

Jerry leaves to cherish his memory; daughter, Rhonda (Greg) Minnich of Norwalk; sons, Ron Ayers of Coeur d'Alene, ID, Mike (Kelly) Ayers of Waukee, IA, Jason (Kandee) Ayers of Van Meter, IA; grandchildren, Spencer (Sarah) Minnich of Peru, IA, Wendy (Jason) Crabtree of Maxwell, IA, Carter and Townsand Ayers of Waukee, IA, Landyn and Laetyn Ayers of Van Meter; great-grandchildren, Eva, Brooks and Sawyer Minnich. Also surviving are his longtime and beloved best friend, Marilyn's family, Bill (Dione) Young, Sandy Peck, Lori (Larry) Downs, Lesley (Joel) Gesaman and their families as well as other relatives and many friends.

Services will be held at St. Charles Parish, Thursday July 22, 2021 at 11:00 am with Pastor Darin Feikema officiating.

The family will greet friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 21, 2021 at Kale Funeral Home.

A live stream of the service will be available at kalefuneralhome.com on Jerry's tribute wall beginning at 11:00 am, Thursday.

Interment will be in the St. Charles Cemetery, St. Charles, Iowa

Memorial contributions may be directed to St. Charles Parish Church, 305 West Main Street, Saint Charles, IA, 50240

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