Geraldine "Jeri" (Strom) Charlson

Jeri Charlson, 90, of Clarion passed away Friday, May 5, 2017 at the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond.

Funeral services for Jeri Charlson will be held at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, May 10, 2017 at First Lutheran Church, 420 First Street Northwest in Clarion with Pastor Grant Woodley officiating. Burial will take place in the Evergreen Cemetery in Clarion.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday.

Geraldine (Jeri) Morgan Strom was born October 12, 1926 in Clarion, Iowa to Lloyd and Jeanette (Morgan) Strom. She was baptized and confirmed in the Congregational Church in Clarion. Jeri was a graduate of Clarion Public Schools.

On June 30, 1946 she was joined in marriage to Alvin Carroll Charlson at the Congregational Church of Clarion, Iowa. To this union three children were born. They are Alan (Phyllis) of Waverly, Carrie Pingel of Mason City, and David (Joyce) of Clarion.

Jeri loved to read. She was a history buff and enjoyed political debate. Through the years she served her Church as a Sunday School teacher, on governing boards, and in the women’s groups. Jeri was the Lay Reader for the gospel group “Free Spirit” as they toured. She presented many programs on faith themes. She and Alvin with another couple, Steve and Marilyn Janssen, were the founders and driving force behind the annual Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day dinners for folks in Belmond who were alone on the holidays. The couples continued leadership of this project for 17 years before passing on the torch. She was a long-time member of Culture Study Club, Grandmothers Club, and DAR, and a charter member of DBP.

Alvin and Jeri farmed in the Kanawha and Belmond area until they retired to the Belmond Community Apartments, residing there until moving to Clarion in 2003.

Her greatest joys were her children, six grandchildren and many great-grandchildren: John (Kristen) Charlson and Grace and Kate, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin; Kevin (Laurie) Charlson and Cael and Claire, Golden, Colorado; Stephanie Lewis, Mason City; Tyler Pingel, Mason City; Trenton (Abby) Piippo and Malichi and Ivy, Mason City; Bradley (Melissa) Pingel and Ben, Zoey, Jade, Max, Jordan and Anna, Carrollton, Texas; Austin (Angela) Charlson and Harley and Lea, Clarion; Everett (Katy) Charlson and Gabriel and Lincoln, Ames. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Arlene Homervold and niece Faye Heykants.

She was preceded in death by Alvin, her husband of 62 years; her parents, Lloyd and Jeanette Strom; sisters Helen Capp, Jeanne Strom, and Mary Byrne; great-grandson Jeff Pingel; and nephew Robert Capp.