Jerome Paul Kersten

Jerome was born June 2, 1937 in Beemer NE to Paul and Lavina (Hasenkamp) Kersten, the oldest of three children. He passed away on Saturday, July 29, 2023 peacefully at home at age 86, with his family at his side.

After graduating from Wisner NE High School in 1955, Jerome enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served two years as the payroll cashier on the USS Taylor (DD/DDE-468) with tours to Hawaii, Japan and Okinawa. Upon his discharge from the Navy in 1957, he met the love of his life, Shirley Mae Schulz, while showing off his brand new 1958 Chevy Belaire. Jerome and Shirley married May 1, 1960 in Beemer NE and moved to their home in Omaha NE were Jerome continued his career at ADM Grain Co. Jerome and his family moved to Moorhead MN, Minot ND, and Burlington IA with the ADM Grain Co. grain merchandiser/manager training program. Jerome was a registered commodity representative on the Chicago Board of Trade. He graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Business from Southeast Iowa Community College the same day as daughters Lisa and Teresa and was then adjunct faculty for SEICC. In the fall of 1987, he transferred with ADM to Peoria IL until his retirement in 2000.

Jerome was an active, founding member of Living Waters Lutheran Church, Peoria. He enjoyed tending to his beautiful yard, vegetable garden and small apple orchard, making Papa’s Perfect Pancakes, dancing the Flying Dutchman polka, hosting summer cook-outs with freshly-squeezed lemonade, assisting with the Father-Daughter dance at Living Waters Lutheran Church, refereeing girls’ softball games for his daughters’ Little League teams, helping the girls with 4-H projects and travelling to Hawaii, Europe, Alaska, Texas and USS Taylor reunions with Shirley. He supported his daughters’ and grandchildren’s many performances, pageants, concerts and games. Jerome was a recent Peoria Honor Flight Veteran, accompanied by his daughter, Teresa. After his Parkinson’s diagnosis, Jerome boxed in the Rock Steady program with his instructor daughter, Pamela. His boxer name was ‘Saint Jerome.’ Jerome served his Lord with his time and talents as he volunteered in many ways, including reading Sunday Scriptures, leading bible studies, teaching Luther’s Small Catechism, serving on the Lutheran Hillside Village Board, tending a community garden, building ramps in Peoria, delivering food to the needy, and cleaning up after Hurricane Katrina in Biloxi MS and the tornados in Joplin Mo and Washington IL.

Jerome is survived by his wife Shirley of 63 years and their 4 daughters: Cynthia Rowley (William) of Dubuque IA; Lisa Ellison (Tony) of Wever IA; Teresa Anderson (Scott) of Peoria IL; and Dr. Pamela Durr (Allen) of Mapleton IL; 10 grandchildren: Kersten (Christopher) Barajas, Evan Rowley, Serica (Nathan) Maiers, Jeremy Jacobs, Natalie (Nathan) Babcock, Madlin Anderson (Alex Milstead), Chad Anderson, Sophie (Jeremiah) Hoffmann, Byron and Anya Durr; 8 Great-grandchildren: Samuel and Daniel Barajas, Ember Maiers, Audrey Jacobs, Ella and Emersyn Babcock, Elli Milstead, and William Hoffmann; his brother Jerald Kersten (Nancy) of Omaha NE and sister Joyce Pasold (Clifford) of Fremont NE, and many dear in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Lavina Kersten.

Jerome enjoyed the lyrics to the 1973 Tom T. Hall/Dean Hall song, "I Love”

I love little baby ducks, old pick-up trucks

Slow movin’ trains and rain

I love little country streams, sleep without dreams

Sunday School in May and hay.

And I love you, too.

I love leaves in the wind, pictures of friends

Birds of the world and squirrels

I love coffee in a cup, little fuzzy pups

Bourbon in a glass and grass.

And I love you, too.

I love honest open smiles, kisses from a child

Tomatoes on the vine and onions

I love winners when they cry, losers when they try

Music when it’s good and life.

And I love you, too.

Visitation will be Friday, Aug 4, from 5 to 7pm at Living Waters Lutheran Church, 7229 Knoxville Ave., Peoria. Funeral with military rites will be at the church on Saturday, Aug 5, at 11am with visitation one hour before the service.

Jerome’s family wishes to thank caregiver Rita Gruzka and her daughter Vicky, Drs. Sub and Moraveni, and Hospice of Peoria for their compassionate care during his Parkinsons illness. In lieu of flowers, donations may be given in honor of Jerome Kersten to: Living Waters Lutheran Church and The Parkinsons Foundation. To view Jerome’s obituary or to leave online condolences please visit www.davison-fulton.com