Jerry Lee Dodds

Jerry Lee Dodds

West Branch

Jerry Lee Dodds, 90, passed away Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at the Lone Tree Health Care Center in Lone Tree, Iowa.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. Monday, January 5, 2026, at the Henderson-Barker Funeral Home in West Branch. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at Bethany Lutheran Church in West Branch. Family burial with military honors will take place at Evergreen Cemetery in Fairfield, Iowa.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the West Branch Fire Department, Moments Hospice, the VA Geriatric Department, or the Alzheimer’s Association.

Jerry was born July 10, 1935, in Pierceville, Iowa, the son of Eberly and Mable (Slee) Dodds, and was the youngest of six children. The family later moved to Stockport, Iowa, where Jerry graduated from Stockport High School.

Following graduation he enlisted in the United States Air Force. He was united in marriage to Jeannie Stansberry. From 1954 to 1958, Jerry and Jeannie were stationed in Del Rio, Texas, where their daughter Sherry was born. They later moved to Fairfield, Iowa, where their son Mike was born.

Jerry worked numerous jobs throughout his life; working as a hairdresser with his wife Jeannie and later worked as a machinist for Nelson Manufacturing in Fairfield. While living in Fairfield, Jerry served as a firefighter and owned the “Tastee Cream” ice cream stand. He was also active in the community, serving as president and member of the Elks Club and holding memberships in the Fairfield Country Club and the Walton Club.

Jerry enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, boating, playing cards, and cooking—his pies were especially famous.

Following his divorce, Jerry was united in marriage to Toni on June 1, 1991, in Fairfield. They later moved to West Branch to be closer to Toni’s daughters, Kristin and Amy Jones, whom Jerry loved as his own.

Jerry continued commuting daily to Nelson Manufacturing in Fairfield. After retiring, he worked as a courier for the University of Iowa Pathology Department from 2012 to 2016. He loved driving, making it the perfect job for him. Jerry and his family became members of Bethany Lutheran Church in West Branch. He also joined the West Branch Country Club and West Liberty Country Club, where he found a wonderful group of friends.

Jerry was known wherever he went and was loved by many for his gentle, kind, and quiet nature, paired with a subtle sense of humor that could catch you off guard.

He loved his family deeply, especially his wife Toni, with whom he shared 34 years. He is survived by his children: Sherry, Cody, Jamee, Mike, Audrey, Mallory, Kristin, Travis, Hunter, Drew, Amy, Rob, and Robby. He will be dearly missed.

Whenever you hear an old country honky-tonk song, raise your glass and have one more for Jerry.

The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude for the care given to Jerry by Lone Tree Care Pioneer Park; Dr. Eberly; Dr. Benson and the UIHC team; Dr. Rebecca Davis, UIHC; and Dr. Schilling and the VA Geriatric Team in Iowa City.