G.E. (Jerry) Sullivan, 93, of Oskaloosa, died Saturday, May 14, 2022, at Northern Mahaska Specialty Care in Oskaloosa, Iowa. He was born August 9, 1928, in Taylor County, Iowa. Jerry was the son of Gene and Velma Amdor Sullivan. He claimed they were threshing the day he was born, and they put a pitchfork in his hands, and he’s been working since. Jerry came to Mahaska County in 1943 and graduated from Oskaloosa High School with the Class of 1947. In 1950, he married his high school sweetheart, Virginia Selk. To this union six children were born. They farmed east of Eddyville and then in Mahaska County. In 1953, Jerry and Virginia moved to Cass County Iowa to farm with his uncle. They returned to farming in Mahaska County in 1956. In 1959, Jerry went to work at Iowa Valve (Clow) and continued to farm on the side. In 1964, Jerry worked on the Red Rock Dam project and also started working at Seger’s Auto Supply for 4 years. He also worked at Oskaloosa International for 16 years and McKim Tractor for 4 ½ years. He retired from McKim Tractor in 1990. After retiring, he helped Virginia in the Village Tea Room. Jerry always raised a few head of livestock until he moved into Oskaloosa in 2010. He enjoyed going to auctions, visiting with others, collecting old toolboxes and fanning mills. He also liked antique tractors, especially Allis Chalmers. He loved to repair and restore his many auction treasures. Jerry was a former member of the Eddyville St. Mary’s Catholic Church and a long-time member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Jerry is survived by his six children: Steve Sullivan of Des Moines, Patti (Tom) Friend of Iowa Falls, Mark (Mary Jane) Sullivan of Rose Hill, Iowa, Kerry (Doug) Royer of Perry, Iowa; Becky (Chris) Bechtel of Custer, South Dakota and Andy Sullivan of Oskaloosa. He is also survived by six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren, one brother, Tom Sullivan of Keosauqua, Iowa, and one sister, Margaret Konzen of Branson, Missouri.
Jerry was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Virginia, his parents, Gene and Velma Sullivan, and one sister, Kathy Frush.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be held Thursday, May 19, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Oskaloosa, with Reverend Troy Richmond officiating. Burial will be at the Henness Cemetery, southwest of Oskaloosa, Iowa. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. The Rosary will be recited at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, and family will be at the funeral chapel from 5:00-7:00 pm Wednesday evening to greet friends and relatives. Memorials may be made to St. Mary’s Church in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
