Memorial
Jerome E. “Jerry” Ferrie, 81, of Cedar Rapids, passed away on October 16, 2016 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
A memorial service, celebration of life and luncheon will be held on Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 11am at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids. Private family inurnment will be at a later date. Jerome had deeded his body to the University Medical Center in Iowa City.
Jerome was born on November 29, 1934 to Irvin and Margaret (Fitzgerald) Ferrie in Cresco, Iowa. He grew up on his parents’ farm near Schley, Iowa, he was the youngest of 11 children. He attended New Oregon Township county school and St. Joseph grade school in Cresco. He graduated from Notre Dame High School in Cresco in 1953. He attended Boy State in Fort Dodge. After graduation from high school he attended the Coyne Electronics School in Chicago, Illinois. In October of 1954, Jerome went to work for the Collins Radio Company later Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids where he worked for 41 years, the last 21 years as a manufacturing supervisor. He was very proud to have worked in Quality Control on the Apollo Project (moon landing).
He was united in marriage to Doris JoAnn Hartwig on May 17, 1957 at Immaculate Conception Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Jerry was a charter member of St. Pius X Catholic Church. Upon retirement from Rockwell Collins in 1995, Jerry took a great interest in volunteer work in the Cedar Rapids area. The Tanager Place Children’s Home was always close to heart and volunteered there for many years. He also served on the Ambroz Arts Advisory Board, Friends of Noel Ridge Green House, Hospice of Mercy, and for a number of years at the Carl and Mary Koehler History Center traveling throughout Cedar Rapids and Linn County doing oral video interviews of many people. Jerry always felt a need to repay his community for what he had received from it. In 2016 he received an award for volunteering for over 2,000 hours of volunteer service.
Jerry enjoyed traveling, spending time with his family, hunting, fishing, boating and the outdoors in general. One of his greatest pleasures in life came from time spent at the Cabin in Ivanhoe which he and his wife JoAnn owned for many years then lost in the flood of 2008. His positive attitude toward life and love of people endeared him to his family, friends, and co-workers.
Jerry is survived by his wife JoAnn, his stepson Joseph (Tami) Frazier, sons Jeffrey (April) Ferrie and John (Samantha) Ferrie, daughter Jerilyn (Jerry) Scott. Nine grandchildren Lyndsey, Brittany, PFC Jacob, Morgan(Alex), Madeline, Danielle(Hykim), Jamie(Alicia), Zachary(Kelly), and Corey; and 5 great-grandchildren Makiyla, Brooklyn, Amiya, Carson William, Charles; sister Mary Gene Hyke, Agnes Arnberg, sister in laws, Doris Ferrie, Darlene Ferrie; brother Joe (Marie) Ferrie and his two best friends Bill Daley and Larry Gouchee.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Sister Mary Denise, Ancetius Friedhoff, brothers Leland, Cecil, Ronald, Cletus “Pete”, and Arthur.
In lieu of flowers memorials in Jerry’s name may be made to Tanager Place in Cedar Rapids or the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha.