Gerald "Jerry" Laedtke

Gerald “Jerry” Laedtke, 91, of Sioux City, passed away Thursday, February 4, 2021 at a local hospital. Funeral services will be held 2:00 P.M. Thursday, February 11, 2021 with a visitation 1 hour prior to service time at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Reverend Roger Madden will officiate. Interment with military honors will be at Graceland Park Cemetery. Online condolences can be expressed at www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Jerry was born March 3, 1929 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, he was one of seven children born to Albert and Minnie (Bergman) Laedtke. He attended Longfellow Grade School and graduated from Oshkosh High School. Following graduation, he began his long and distinguished career in the United States Air Force. Jerry served for 24 years in the Air Force in a number of capacities, including working as a court reporter in the JAG office. Throughout his career, he was involved in the Occupation of Japan, Pakistan, The War Room, at the headquarters of the Air Defense Command, Vietnam, in both Da Nang and the Mekong Delta, and during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business from University of Omaha while serving in the Air Force. On December 30, 1956, he married Laura Frances “Fran” Kimmel in Harrisburg, IL. To this union, 2 children were born: Stephen Gerald and Douglas Brian. Douglas preceded him in death in 2017. Jerry and Fran shared 64 years of blissful marriage together. After retiring from the military, he worked for IBP, Land O’Lakes in Columbus, NE, and finally the IRS.

Jerry lived in Sioux City for over 40 years. He was a member of First United Methodist Church. He was a member of the Sioux City Boat Club and the Dakota Dunes Golf Club. He was an avid golfer, enjoyed gardening, and was a devoted football fan; a lifelong Green Bay Packers fan, until becoming first a Patriots fan, and most recently a Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan.

Those left to honor his memory are his wife, Fran, of Sioux City; son Steve Laedtke of Houston, TX; daughter-in-law Keira Thrasher of Minneapolis, MN; grandchildren Ian and Erin Laedtke of Minneapolis, MN; sister Geraldine “Shonner” Roman of Virginia; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, infant brother Joseph Laedtke, brother Russell Laedtke, sisters Delilah Laedtke, Fern Schram, Joyce Laedtke, and son Douglas Laedtke.