Gerald (Jerry) Arnold Werth of Stromsburg, Nebraska, passed away at the age of 79 years on August 25th, 2025 at Bryan West in Lincoln.

He was born April 2nd, 1946 in Stromsburg, Nebraska to Alton and Joyce Werth. Jerry attended elementary school in Omaha and high school in Stromsburg. On August 12, 1963 he joined the U.S. Marine Corps at age 17 and served at Camp Pendleton, CA, Okinawa, Japan, Vietnam, and Camp Lejeune, NC. He served for 3 1/2 years until October 17, 1966.

Jerry married Helen Virginia Rystrom of Stromsburg on May 11th, 1968. They first lived in Omaha, then Elkhorn, and later moved back to Stromsburg in 1978 to raise their three children; Kristi, Joshua, and Sarah. Jerry worked in traveling sales, owned Polk County Gym where he offered focused weight training for local athletes, as well as Polk County Archery where he encouraged young men in their pursuit of bow hunting and the sport of archery. Additionally he was the manager of the lumberyard in Stromsburg, and later opened his own business, Custom Lawn Care, which he worked until his official retirement in 2024. Jerry was a faithful member of Living Word Church of Stromsburg.

Jerry and Helen greatly enjoyed their retirement and spent just about every moment together. He helped Helen expand and develop her flower garden. They also traveled to visit family and create new memories in Colorado, Florida, South Dakota, Missouri, Wyoming, and Kentucky. Jerry was not a joiner of organizations, but an individual who forged his own path in many endeavors over his lifetime. His interests included fishing, family time, church, snowmobiling, weight lifting, hunting, archery, side-by-side trail rides, and spending time in the mountains. He often said he felt closest to God when he was sitting in a tree stand surrounded by nature.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Helen Werth, and their children; Kristi (Ryan) Ideus of Seward (children; David [Emily] of Lincoln and Ethan [Tatum] of Kearney), Joshua (Jennifer) Werth (children; Ian, Rebekah, Sebastian, Alexander, [Isaac deceased] and Elizabeth) of Stromsburg, and Sarah (Terry) Shinabarger (children; Ethney, Elim, and Eviannah) of Bison, SD; his sister Margie Cook, and a host of other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his grandson Isaac Werth, his parents Alton Werth and Joyce Hartline Waller, his sister Judy Werth Flower, and his in-laws Don and Geraldine Rystrom.

Memorials are suggested to the family to be designated later.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, August 31, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. at the Covenant Church in Stromsburg with Dennis Nuttelman officiating. Visitation will be held Saturday, August 30 from 5:00 to 7:00 p. m. at Dubas Funeral Home in Stromsburg. Musical selections will be “Psalm 23” and “Worthy”. Pallbearers will be David Ideus, Ryan Ideus, Ian Werth, Ethan Ideus, Elim Simmons, and Terry Shinabarger. Honorary pallbearers will be Rebekah Werth, Alexander Werth, Elizabeth Werth, Sebastian Werth, Ethney Simmons and Eviannah Simmons. Interment will be in the Stromsburg Cemetery with Military Rites by U.S. Marine Corps and Stromsburg American Legion.

Dubas Funeral Home of Stromsburg and Osceola has been entrusted with arrangements. Dubasfuneralhome.com