Gerald Bird

Gerald “Jerry” Bird, 76 years old, of Alton, IA, died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015, at his home in Alton, IA. 
            Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Alton with Rev. Terry Roder officiating.  Burial will be in the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Alton.  Military Honors will be conducted by Floyd Post 200 American Legion.  Visitation will be anytime after 4 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 2, 2015.  There will be a parish rosary at 5 p.m. & a vigil prayer service at 7 p.m., all at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Alton.  Services have been entrusted to Fisch Funeral Home & Monument in Remsen.
            Jerry was born October 20, 1938, at Sanborn, IA, the son of Marion & Ellaine (Franck) Bird.  He was raised in the Marcus IA, area where he graduated from Holy Name Catholic School in 1956. He then enlisted in the navy from June 1956 to September 1959 graduating from the Hospital Corps School in 1957, then stationed in Jacksonville, FL.
            After being in the service he worked various jobs including being a bartender at the Triangle Lounge in Remsen. He married Mary Kay Kinney on June 19, 1965 and they lived in Remsen before moving to Alton in 1971. He worked for ten years at Russell’s Ready Mix in Remsen/Orange City. He worked at Ray Mohrhauser in Le Mars, IA for a short time and then worked at Joe’s Ready Mix in Sioux Center, IA for 25 years until his retirement in 2005.
            Jerry was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church.  He enjoyed playing cards, bowling, fishing, and going to watch his grand children at their various activities. During retirement, he could be seen going for his spins throughout the day, reading westerns, and watching sports or game shows on the television.
            Survivors include: his wife, Mary of Alton; one daughter, Ann (Mark) Pottebaum of Alton, IA; one son, Jim of  Des Moines, IA. 7 Grandchildren; April Pottebaum (Shawn Keizer) of Sioux Falls, SD, Autumn (Rick) Oolman of Alton, IA, Crystal Pottebaum of Cedar Falls, IA, Dalton Pottebaum, of Alton, IA, Molly Bird of Evanston, IL, Elizabeth and Jenny Bird both of Des Moines, IA; 2 great grand daughters, Avah Oolman and Sasha Bird; 2 sisters Margaret (Ken) Gengler-Kohler of Remsen, IA, Molly (Roger) Florke of Brookville, KS; one brother Larry (Donna) Bird of Marcus, IA. In-Laws, Jean Bird (Roger Vanfossen) of South Sioux City, Dennis (Lois) Kinney of Le Mars, IA, Pat (Burleigh) Jurgensen and Dave (Cindy) Kinney all of Sioux City, IA, Dick Kinney of Denver, CO, Jan (Kev) Budden of Granville, IA.
            Preceded by: his parents, 2 brothers, Edward and Peter Bird, one sister in infancy, Nancy, Father & Mother-in-law, James (Maybelle) Kinney, one brother-in-law, Al M. Gengler, sister in-law, Lois Bird, niece Kathy Canup.
            Casket Bearers will be, Bob and Randy Gengler, Corey Phillips, Jason Budden, Mickey Kinney and John Weber.