Gerald 'Jerry' G. Halstenson

IN LOVING MEMORY OF
GERALD G. HALSTENSON

BORN
December 14, 1938
Canby, Minnesota

PASSED AWAY
December 30, 2015
Sheldon, Iowa

FUNERAL SERVICE
10:30 A.M. Saturday, January 2, 2016
St. Paul Lutheran Church; Sheldon, Iowa
Pastor Craig Nissen Officiating

Visitation will be after 3 P.M. Friday, January 1, 2016
with the family present from 5 to 7 P.M. Friday
at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Sheldon.

CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS
Here I Am Lord
You Are Mine Video
Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)
I Know That My Redeemer Lives
Organist: Carleen Kehrberg

HONORARY CASKET BEARERS
Granddaughters
Lexi Bumby Morgan Bumby
Olivia Granstra Jessica Bache
Lauren Bache

CASKET BEARERS
Grandsons
Brennan Granstra Jake Granstra
Jeffrey Granstra Ben Granstra
Spencer Bumby Carter Bumby

FINAL RESTING PLACE
East Lawn Cemetery
Sheldon, Iowa

After todays graveside service, relatives and friends are invited
to join the family in the fellowship hall of the church.

Arrangements are under the care of the
Vander Ploeg Funeral Home; Sheldon, Iowa.

GERALD G. HALSTENSON
Gerald Glenn Halstenson, age 77, passed away on Wednesday, December 30, 2015 at Sheldon Sanford Care Center after an extended illness. Jerry was born on December 14, 1938 in Canby, Minnesota to Roy and Catherine (Cole) Halstenson. He attended Canby Public Schools and loved playing basketball, football, and working on the family farm. Jerry attended South Dakota State University, earning a degree in Animal Husbandry and Economics, and has always loved the Jacks. He began his career with Production Credit Association (PCA) in 1961 as a loan officer in Worthington, MN. Jerry became branch manager of the Slayton PCA in 1964 and was promoted to vice president of the Worthington branch in 1974. Ultimately he became PCA President in Sheldon, Iowa in 1979. Jerry was a farmer at heart, and worked diligently helping other families to keep their farms and legacies in tact during the farm crisis of the 1980s. Eventually Jerry spent his final years working in sales for Midland Insurance Company, continuing to help the families he became a part of during all his years in PCA.
On October 24, 1964 he married Paula (Larson) and together they raised five children: Brett Sanders, Jeff Sanders, Nancy (Jeff Johnson), Lori (Darin Granstra), and Amy Halstenson-Bache. Precious grandchildren include Lexi, Morgan, Spencer, and Carter Bumby, Brennan (Rachel) Granstra, Jake (fianc Megan) Granstra, Jeffrey (Brooke) Granstra, Ben Granstra, and Olivia Granstra, and Jessica and Lauren Bache.
Jerry never knew a stranger, and never forgot a name. He was famous for nicknames and telling stories about the old days and his grandsons sporting victories. Jerrys greatest enjoyment in life was attending each and every Western Christian High School game that his grandchildren participated in. He traveled throughout Iowa, Missouri, and Minnesota to attend all his grandchildrens activities and supported them whole-heartedly no matter what their pursuits. Jerry gave generously of himself to all who knew him.
Also grateful for having shared his life are Jerrys sisters Gail DeBettignies, Marvel Evenson, Nancy (Mike) Anderson, sister-in-law Nancy (Wayne) Crowe, and brothers-in-law Tom Larson and Reid Evenson, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Godson Doug Evenson, daughter-in-law Kim Sanders, and brother-in-law, Dick DeBettignies.