Obituary for Geraldine "Gerri" R. Yurth

Geraldine “Gerri” R. Yurth, 79, of Fort Madison, IA, passed away at 4:48 a.m. on Monday, October 18, 2021, at the Great River Medical Center in West Burlington, Iowa. 

She was born on September 17, 1942, in San Francisco, CA to Roy & Zola Arnott Weldon. She married Leo Estel in 1965, they later divorced. She married Bruce C. Yurth on October 12, 1973, in Biggsville, Illinois.  She worked at Shaeffer Pen and Fruehauf for many years before going into business for herself.  She owned and operated the Salem Tap I in the early 1980’s and then converted the old bank building into the Salem Tap II which is more commonly known as “The Vault”.  She also owned and operated The Old Timers Saloon in Bonaparte, Iowa and sold Tupperware for a few years before moving to Fort Madison and becoming a top selling Avon Representative in the district.   She worked for Black’s Transit and before retiring had impressive amounts of Ebay sales that kept her busy.   After her retirement, she turned her attention towards helping the impoverished and feeding the hungry.  That and her most recent endeavor of becoming the owner of Levi trailer court kept her on the go up until the past couple of years in which a fall rendered her immobile.  In the past year, various illnesses caused her overall health to deteriorate rather quickly.  

She is survived by her loving husband of 48 years, Bruce C. Yurth.  Seven children: Charles (Elizabeth) Weldon, Hitchcock, TX, Michelle (William) White, West Point, IA, Chris Estel, Los Angeles, CA, Stacey (Michael) Willis, Savannah, GA, Lori (Brian) Wilbert, Donnellson, IA, Bill (Linda Doss) Merschbrock, and Mandy (Jason Kokjohn) Wells.  Ten grandchildren: Casi Tarr, Jamilee Helling, Amanda Andersen, James’s “Chance” Estel, Michael Weldon, Shelby Scott, Teresa Weldon, Daniel Wells, Matthew Wells and Ryan Wilbert.  She is also survived by 12 great grandchildren and predeceased by her parents, a brother, Charles R. Weldon, a grandson, Brandon Louis-Bradley Scott, two great grandsons and one great granddaughter.  

Per her wishes, she was entrusted to Iowa Cremation and there will not be a visitation or funeral but a celebration of life may be announced at a later date.  

Anyone who knew Gerri knew she had an open heart for all animals wild or tame, so instead of sending flowers please donate to PAWS Pet Shelter in her name.