Geraldine Marie “Jerri” Dean

Geraldine Marie “Jerri” Dean

Mt. Pleasant

Geraldine Marie “Jerri” Dean, 88, of Mt. Pleasant passed away on Thursday, June 27, 2024, surrounded by her loving family.

Jerri was born to LaVon and Ila (Baker) Zike on March 8, 1936, in Burlington, Iowa. After graduating with her nursing degree from the Burlington Hospital School of Nursing she was united in marriage to Vernon Dean in Burlington on April 21, 1957. They moved to Kentucky after they married and returned to Iowa nine years later to make Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, their permanent home.

Jerri was a loving and devoted wife, mother, and nurse. She worked as a floor nurse with several hospitals in Kentucky before making a home at Henry County Memorial Hospital in Iowa. Jerri worked in many areas of the hospital and was formative in the establishment of the first Dialysis Unit in Southeast Iowa alongside Dr. ‘Pete’ Rankin. She finished her career at Southeastern Community College (SCC) as their Health Occupations Coordinator where she taught a range of healthcare curriculum. She came out of retirement to help open the SCC office in Mt. Pleasant where she continued to inspire and aid in the development of future nurses.

Jerri’s deep care for those in need showed in all aspects of her life; from late-night visits to ailing friends’ homes to her decision to come out of retirement. She was a member of the St. Michaels Episcopal Church where she served as the long-time Parrish Nurse. She was honored as a Distinguished Alumni at SCC and served on the boards of the Southeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging and the first Hospice Organization in Henry County. In her free time, she could always be found reading and was a member of the ‘Scribblers,’ a local writing group. In everything she did she showcased the deep love she carried for her family.

Jerri is survived by her children, Monica (Brad) Wesely and Eric Dean of Mt. Pleasant, her two grandsons, Nicolas Wesely of Ft. Collins, Colorado, Nathan (Deryn) Wesely of Cordova, Alaska, and several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a daughter Marsha, her husband of 67 years, Vernon, her brother, Robert Zike, and her sisters, Marilyn Ingwerson and Ellen Boulnois.

A Requiem Holy Eucharist will be held at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Mt. Pleasant with Father Wayne Kamm officiating. Burial will follow in the Forest Home Cemetery. Visitation will be held after 2:00 pm on Monday, July 8, 2024 at the Murphy Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant where the family will be present from 4:00 to 6:30 pm. In lieu of flowers a memorial in her memory has been established to the Marsha G. Dean Nursing Scholarship at Southeastern Community College, established by Dean and Jerri in honor of their daughter or to St. Michael’s Episcopal Church.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.murphyfuneralandmonuments.com

Murphy Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant, is caring for her arrangements.