LUTHER, Iowa—Jerome Andrew Raymond Bretschneider age 75, of Luther, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at his home.
Jerry was born November 6, 1948, in Seattle, WA, the son of Andrew and Dorothy (Tucker) Bretschneider. His father was a WWII Army veteran and signal maintainer for The Milwaukee Road in Cedar Falls, WA, where Jerry grew up, inspiring Jerry’s deep love of history and his future career paths. Jerry graduated in 1968 from Mt. Si High School in Snoqualmie, WA. He joined the United States Navy and served in Vietnam.
After returning to the states, Jerry started his dispatcher career, first with the Milwaukee Road until it shut down in 1984, joining the Burlington Northern Railroad. In 1995, the family relocated to Fort Worth, TX when the Burlington Northern merged with the Santa Fe Railway, continuing to work with them until his retirement in 2009. In 2011, Jerry and Shirley moved to Townsend, MT to enjoy retirement and in 2018 moved to Luther, IA to be closer to their daughter.
In Texas, Jerry was a charter member of Knights of Columbus, San Juan Diego Assembly #2857, serving in various positions as a 4th degree knight, including as the Faithful Navigator. He helped establish the Adult Altar Server program at St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton’s Catholic Church and was an instituted acolyte. He also volunteered hundreds of hours at the Presbyterian Night Shelter in downtown Fort Worth.
In Montana, Jerry continued his service to the Church as a sacristan, altar server and Eucharistic Minister.
After moving to Iowa, Jerry became involved in many organizations including the local VFW, American Legion, Boone County Historical Museum, Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad, Madrid Historical Society and Ascension Parish Social Justice Committee.
Jerry was united in marriage to Shirley Bliss on September 9, 1987, in Seattle, Washington. To this union a daughter, Jennifer, was born.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a grandson, Gabriel.
Jerry is survived by his wife of 36 years, Shirley Bretschneider of Luther; daughter, Jennifer (Matthew Upah) Bretschneider currently stationed abroad in Italy; three stepchildren, Thomas Weatherwax of Washington State, Dorothy Kelley of Washington State and Rene Ickes of Arizona; 18 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Evelyn (Michael) Parker of Florida and Alice (Robert) Allen of Florida.
Jerry’s friends and family remember him as a caring, sincere and generous individual, who loved God and his family above all else. He had a unique ability to connect with people from all walks of life, anywhere in the world, leaving a lasting impact on those who had the privilege of crossing paths with him.
In addition to his love for travel and all things railroad, Jerry was an avid reader, storyteller and fisherman, further reflecting the depth of his character and the richness of his experiences.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 10 A.M. Friday, August 9th, 2024, at St. Malachy’s Parish in Madrid. There will be a luncheon and a time to greet the family immediately following the Mass in the Hansen Hall.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials either be given to the Boone Area Veterans Center, 815 Keeler Street, Boone, IA 50036, www.bavc.us/donate or to the Milwaukee Road Historical Association, P.O. Box 307, Antioch, IL 60002-0307, www.mrha.com
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel at Sixth and Marshall Streets in Boone. Online condolences may be left to Jerry’s family at www.schroedermemorialchapel.com
Jerry Bretschneider, 75, Luther, Iowa
