Gerry Idle, 99, one month shy of 100 years old, of Columbus Junction, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, at Colonial Manor in Columbus Junction. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020, at 2 p.m. at the Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral and Cremation Service of Columbus Junction. Burial will follow the services at Columbus City Cemetery. Visitation for Gerry will be on Wednesday from noon until 2 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be left to Washington County Hospice in memory of Gerry. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sandhfuneralservice.com
Geraldine Elizabeth Bopp was born Dec. 6, 1920, in Richmond, Iowa, to John and Margaret Lytle Bopp. She was the youngest of six children.
In 1940, she met Bernard Harley Idle at Bill Meyer’s Circle Inn Pavilion in Lone Tree. They enjoyed dancing to the big bands like Glenn Miller, Lawrence Welk, and Guy Lombardo. They were married Nov. 28, 1940, at Lone Tree. After their marriage, they asked the county if they could live in an abandoned schoolhouse in Lone Tree. They put up walls and made it a home.
Bernard and Gerry welcomed their daughter, Kathy, in 1953 and their son, Keith, in 1956.
In 1955, they moved to their farm in Columbus Junction. There, Bernard raised hogs, cattle, corn, and beans. Meanwhile, Gerry was busy running the household, growing a large garden, and canning. She also ran a large egg business with up to 1,500 chickens at a time. She delivered eggs to local restaurants, rest homes, schools, and homes. Gerry also worked at Cotter Schools in the cafeteria for many years.
In her later years, Gerry was an avid bird watcher. She enjoyed all birds, except for “That Darn Blue Jay!!”
Gerry was a devout Catholic and was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Lone Tree, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Columbus Junction and St. James’ Catholic Church in Washington over the years.
Gerry was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; three brothers: Ralph, Omer and Walter Bopp; two sisters: Helen Rotenburger and Rosella Attig.
Gerry is survived by a daughter: Kathy (Vern) Rode of Columbus Junction; a son: Keith (Sherri) of Overland Park, Kan.; three granddaughters: Nicole Crossett of Muscatine, Kelly (Jason) Langfeldt of Omaha, Neb., and Wendy Crossett of Washington, Iowa; two great-grandchildren: Ryan (Asia) Brookhart and Karissa Smith of Washington, Iowa.
