- Born on: May 19, 1936
- Departed on: December 23, 2023
- Resided in: Cedar Falls, IA
Jerry Alan Carlson
Jerry Alan Carlson, of Cedar Falls, passed away December 23, 2023. He was born in Shenandoah, Iowa On May 19,1936, to Lucille (Hoxie) and Glenn A. Carlson. He graduated from Essex High School in 1954, then studied economics and journalism at Iowa State University. He spent his junior year in the Philippines, finishing his time there with a two-month around the world trip. He married Jill Marie Clarkson of Arlington, Virginia in 1959, and entered the United States Air Force two years later. In 1964 he was honorably discharged as Captain.
He spent eight years with Farm Journal magazine in Philadelphia, meanwhile completing his masters degree in journalism. He resigned as managing editor of the Journal and moved back to Iowa where he joined Merrill Oster in launching Professional Farmers of America in 1972. During the 1980s farm crisis he pursued his passion for renewing soils, and spent many hours with farmers showing them the benefits of healthy foods. After retiring from Pro Farmer in 2001 he went into business with his son Erik to develop and sell a proprietary product called WakeUp. He continued to share God’s plan for healthy soils and strong families as long as he lived.
Throughout his varied careers, he was a passionately devoted husband, father and grandfather — hunting, fishing, photographing, farming, hanging out — and homeschooling. He joined with family and friends in worshiping together wherever they met.
He is survived by his wife Jill, his sister Carolyn Confer of Red Oak, Iowa, and by his children Jennifer (Joe) Rosio of San Antonio, TX, Stephanie (Mark) Larson of Montrose, MN and Erik (Jeanene) Carlson of Cedar Falls, Iowa. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Joseph Rosio (Cape Cod, MA), Jacob Rosio (San Antonio, TX), Cheyenne Larson (St. Paul, MN), Justus Larson (Montrose, MN) and Blake (Hannah) Carlson, Terry Carlson and Lane Carlson of Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Services for Jerry Carlson will be on Wednesday Jan. 24th, 2024 at 1:00 pm at Zion Lutheran Church, 5831 Grundy Rd, Hudson, IA 50643. The family requests that no flowers be sent.
