AMES, Iowa—Funeral arrangements have been set for Gerald “Jerry” William Toms, age 86, of Ames, Iowa. He died on Thursday, December 30, 2021 at Bethany Life in Story City.
Jerry was born on March 31, 1935 in Nevada, the son of Ted and Marie (Weigel) Toms. He graduated from Jordan High School in 1953 and Iowa State University with a degree in Ag Education in 1959. Immediately after college, he started farming. He farmed for many years and only began to slow down in the early 2000s.
Jerry was united in marriage with Shelby Gall in the middle of a blizzard on March 14, 1959 in Des Moines. Jerry and Shelby were in a card club in their earlier years. The couple was a part of the Holiday Rambler Camping Club since 1993 and had many travels including, Alaska, Hawaii, Europe and Cancun, Mexico. The couple had a motorhome since the ‘70s and made their way through every state! Jerry and Shelby also wintered in Mesa, AZ from 1997 until 2015. While in Arizona, Jerry and Shelby were in a square-dancing club.
Jerry’s favorite hobby was to go to garage sales. He found all the bargains and had a particular favorite find of clocks and shelves, along with anything he could use on the farm.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Mary Dee (Russ) Neely; brothers-in-law, Jerry Sowers and Ray Long.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Shelby of Ames; children, Scott (Christine) Toms, Jeff (Carla) Toms, all of Boone, Mike (Kathy) Toms of Madrid and Kathy (Bart) Turk of Polk City; 15 grandchildren, Ashley (Chris) Vorwald, Scotty Toms, Crystal Toms, Candice (Andy) Doss, Brian (Jody) Toms, Kayla (Justin) Lindgren, Spencer (Kyle) Paulson, Natalie (Jacob) Hummel, Andrew Larson, Emma Toms, Spencer Toms, Nathan (Rachel) Turk, Daniel Turk, Matthew Turk and Elizabeth Turk; 15 great-grandchildren with another on the way; sisters, Colleen Sowers of Forsyth, MO and Dixie Long of Boise, ID; along with numerous nieces and nephews.
A Private Family Funeral Service will be held at Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel. Burial will be in Linwood Park Cemetery in Boone.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to Bethany Life in Story City.
Online condolences may be left at www.schroedermemorialchapel.com.
Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel at Sixth and Marshall Streets is in charge of arrangements.
Gerald “Jerry” Toms, 86, Ames, Iowa
