Jerrold Foutch

Jerrold Wayne Foutch was born December 24, 1937, to Wayne and Lois (Wharton) Foutch in Dunlap, Iowa. He was baptized in the Methodist Church, attended school at the Old Douglas Hill School east of Woodbine and then Woodbine High School graduating in 1955. Jerry attended Iowa State University and graduated in 1959 with a degree in Vocational Education and Farm Operation. Jerry returned to Woodbine to live and work on the family farm while teaching Vo-Ag for the Woodbine school system. Jerry married Mary Jane Leonard on September 14, 1957, at the Methodist Church in Woodbine. The couple was blessed with five children. While teaching in Woodbine, he attended the University of Nebraska in Omaha and received his Master's Degree in Guidance in 1961. He taught in Woodbine, Manilla, and Shelby-Tennant Schools. Jerry and Mary partnered with Francis and Iris Harper at the Nutrena Feed Store. He also taught the Farm Veterans class in Panama, Iowa, and agriculture courses at Iowa Western Community College. On June 14, 1980, Jerry married Carolyn Ann Anastasi at their home in Council Bluffs. Together they have eight children, 19 grandchildren, and six great grand-children. In January of 1995 he accepted a position as a computer programmer at a computer business in Denison, Iowa, and worked there until his retirement.

During his life he was a farmer and teacher, served on the Harrison County Fair Board, sold insurance, owned and maintained a computer software business, and worked as a computer programmer. Jerry enjoyed visiting with all of his grandchildren. He loved watching them grow and reach their goals. His favorite thing to do was attend the grandchildren's activities – especially baseball games. Jerry had a passion to organize directories for several local cemeteries. He developed a program to accomplish this, but no program could walk all those cemeteries for him. He documented Persia Valley View, Bigler's Grove, Neola Township and St. Patrick's, Woodbine, Minden Township, and Shelby Cemeteries.

Jerry died on Tuesday, July 4, 2017, at the Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa, at the age of 79 years, six months, and 10 days.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; infant daughter, Kaye Linda Foutch; daughter, Kathy French; son-in-law, Jeff Gash; and infant granddaughter, Marti Marie Schechinger. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Foutch of Portsmouth, IA; children, Kris Gash of Missouri Valley, IA, Konnie (Ron) Schechinger of Harlan, IA, Karan (Brent) Reidenbach of Lorton, VA, Kevin (Andee) Foutch of Denver, CO, Sue (Scott) Duhachek of Oakland, IA, Jay (Bobbi) Smith of New Virginia, IA, Lori (Brent) Hugen of Albia, IA; son-in-law, Dave French of Freeman, MO; 19 grandchildren: Jennifer Lim, Jessica Hiles, Derren and Derrek Gash; Brad, Mary and Brian Schechinger; Kaitlyn Miller and Skylar French; Trystan Reidenbach; Alex Conner Foutch; Calvin, Anna and Eric Duhachek; Jack, Jamie and Nick Smith; Allison and Jaden Hugen; six great grandchildren; three sisters, Ann (Eldon) Hutcheson of Boone, IA, Mary (Richard) Sauvain of Colorado Springs, CO, Bobbi (Jim) Reynolds of Waterloo, WI; and many other relatives and friends.