Jerry DeWitt

Gerald Dean DeWitt, the youngest child of Walter Byron DeWitt and Ruth JennieVail DeWitt was born April 23, 1930 in Deep River, Iowa and passed from this life Monday, June 27, 2022 at Clarke County Hospital at 92 years of age.

Jerry received his education in Lacey consolidated schools and graduated from Lacey High School in 1948. Gerry farmed for a year after graduation but decided he didn’t want to make it a career, so he enrolled in the teachers’ college, now Truman State University at Kirksville, Missouri. He was united in marriage to Norma Jean Reed DeWitt on August 6, 1953 at Novelty, Missouri and three children, Linda, Gary and Keith blessed this union.

Jerry joined the United states Army in September 1953 and reported to Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. After eight weeks of training, he was transferred to Fort Riley, Kansas, where he went through four months of intensive training for the Intelligence Service in photo interpretation studying weaponry.Jerry was later transferred to Korea  from March to August of 1954 at which time they shipped out to Guam where he remained until July 1955.

Jerry returned home in the fall of 1955 and began his teaching career at Ollie, Iowa which is north of Ottumwa. He taught social studies, industrial arts, physical education and coached all the sports - boys and girls basketball, baseball and track. He and Norma stayed there for six years before moving to Farmington, Iowa in the Harmony School District. They were there four years and again he taught social studies, industrial arts and physical education in addition to coaching girls’ athletics - basketball, softball, and track. Jerry was proud of his coaching record: He took two teams to state - one from Ollie and one from Farmington. The girls won over 75% of the basketball games and in Farmington they were fourth in the state in softball.Jerry came to Osceola in 1965, where he became the junior high principal and girl’s basketball coach until 1968.He later served as the high school principal in Osceola for 28 years, retiring in 1993.Following his retirement, he remained active coaching 7th grade girls softball and basketball.

In his earlier years, Jerry enjoyed playing fastpitch softball and had coached many young pitchers over the years.He was also very involved in sports officiating working many years with his friend Jerry Brown.Jerry was a member of Davis-Pence American Legion Post #69 in Osceola and has been very involved with the Osceola Rotary Club for many years as well as serving on the Full Harvest Housing Board.He enjoyed his Coffee Clubs, playing golf up until age 90, and helping drive disabled veterans to various appointments over the years.

Those relatives who preceded Jerry death were his father, Walter Byron DeWitt, mother, Ruth Jennie DeWitt, brother, Kenneth DeWitt, brother, Norval DeWitt, brother-in-law, Norris Caves, brother-in-law, Ronnie Simmons, brother-in-law, Kenneth Reed.

Jerry leaves to cherish his memory; spouse, Norma Jean DeWitt of Osceola, IA, daughter, Linda  (Kim) Swaim of Indianola, IA, son, Gary DeWitt of Des Moines, IA, son, Keith (Tina) DeWitt of Waukee, IA, Grandchildren, Natalie Swaim of Knoxville, TN,  Ben Swaim of Woodstock, IL, Kalynn, Madison  and Cooper DeWitt all of Waukee, IA, sister, Loretta Caves of Oskaloosa, IA, sister-in-law, Pat DeWitt of Oskaloosa, IA, sister-in-law, Joan DeWitt of West Des Moines, IA, sister-in-law, Donna Simmons of Novelty, MO and sister-in-law, Janice Reed of Bettendorf, IA as well as other relatives and many friends.

Services will be held at Kale Funeral Home, Friday July 8, 2022 at 11:00 am with Pastor Chuck DeVos officiating.

The family will greet friends from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm Thursday, July 7, 2022 at Kale Funeral Home.

A live stream of the service will be available at www.kalefuneralhome.com on Jerry’s tribute wall beginning at 11:00 am, Friday.Interment will be in the Maple Hill Cemetery

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Osceola Public Library, or Osceola Parks & Rec and will be directed to Osceola Municipal Golf Course

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.kalefuneralhome.com