Jerry Lynn Blenner

Jerry (JB) Lynn Blenner, 65, of Holstein, Iowa, passed away peacefully surrounded by family Thursday, January 26, 2023 at the Cherokee Regional Medical Center of Cherokee.  A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, February 01, 2023 at 10:30 AM at the Trinity Lutheran Church of Anthon with the Rev. Marty Davis officiating.  Burial will be at the Oak Hill Cemetery of Anthon.  A visitation with the body present will be held on Tuesday, January 31, 2023 from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM at the Nicklas D. Jensen Funeral Home of Holstein.  

JB was born December 8, 1957 to Eldon and Barbara (Lewis) Blenner. He grew up on the farm northwest of Holstein with his parents, 2 sisters, and 2 brothers. His childhood is marked with memories of livestock and crop farming, heavy involvement in 4H where he spent time showing animals at the Ida County Fairand fostering his love for animals and hard work, attending Holstein High School where he played football (Class of 1976), and making memories with lifelong friends. 

February 4, 1978 he was united in marriage to Teresa Kuchel and from this union came three daughters: Kelsey, Hillary and Jami. The family spent the entirety of the children’s upbringing in Holstein. Family memories include a trip to Disney World, baseball games in Chicago, Cincinnati, and Denver, a camping/boating trip to Whiting’s River, years of trips to local fishing ponds & hunting spots, and Sunday mornings playing pool and eating popcorn at the firehouse. JB had much pride in his girls. He never cared where they went or how successful they were, but put more worth in how you treated people, noticing and providing help when and where needed, and if you were an asset to your community. 

JB began employment through the T@I (Trade and Industry) option offered by Holstein High School. He was employed beginning in 1975 by Charles Armiger at Royal Scott Sales in Holstein. In the early 80’s, with a growing family, JB sought new employment with Tom Robie at Tom’s SuperValu in Holstein. Under Tom’s wing, JB learned the ropes of quality customer service, business management, and business ownership eventually purchasing the business upon Tom’s retirement in 1988. JB’s SuperValu (or JB’s Super-V, as we liked to call it) was the beginning of all three girls’ employment resumes, and a place were hard work, politeness, integrity, and honesty were the expectation. JB was ahead of his time when it came to grocery delivery and took great pride in offering this service to customers in our small surrounding communities. As family grew up and moved on, he sold the grocery store to long-time friend, Mike Clausen & JB returned to his roots to take up large animal care with the Holstein Veterinary Clinic. He was employed by Dr D. Peuse and then later Dr. K. Hadden. This last employment position had given him the greatest joy and satisfaction of his life. He was a steward of the land, its animals, and was a champion against injustice toward either. 

In the community of Holstein, you could always find JB. Over the years he spent time volunteering at the Holstein Country Club (he was a past president of the board), actively involved in the planning and execution of the Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry, was an avid member of Pheasants Forever and Ducks Unlimited, a past member of the Holstein Jaycee’s, and was a regular thespian on stage for the annual Holstein Variety Show. In his spare time, he spent days in the john boat fishing local ponds, early mornings in his tree stand in local timber, walking fields looking for pheasant, didn’t miss Wednesday Stag at the country club, always filled a slot during a weekend golf tournament, and was always a phone call away from a good time. 

JB’s greatest joy in life was time with friends. He rarely left the house without a breast-pocket shirt full of smokes and a bottle of booze under the seat. Many of his personal memories are spent driving the gravel roads in the truck with a passenger (animal or human). Memories with friends are filled with full-on belly laughs, building, hauling, moving, driving, and surviving. Fan-favorites include shooting and sledding at Eldie’s Cabin – or just the streets of Holstein, time spent on a stool at the Blue Eagle,Holstein Country Club, The Little Siouxloon in Anthon, and a most-memorable 1997 fishing trip to Manitoba Canada. However, more often than not, JB enjoyed fellowship no matter the place nor the time. He was always at the ready with a helping hand, a full gas tank, a handshake, a selection of beverages, and didn’t need a plan to get going.

He is survived and missed by his daughters; Kelsey (Shane) Bumsted of Solon, IA, Hillary (John) Walsh of Holstein, IA, and Jami Blenner of Sioux Falls, SD.; his grandchildren, Grant, Collin, and Nora Bumsted, Parker and Blakely Walsh, and his pal, Sully; his mother, Barbara Blenner -Buckley of Kingsley, IA; his siblings, Pam (Rick) Westphal of Larrabee, IA, Tim Blenner of Schaller, IA, Robert (Joni) Blenner of Holstein, IA, and Ann (Korry) Bowman of Kingsley, IA, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. 

He was preceded in death by his father, Eldon Blenner, his sister-in-law, Kim Blenner, numerous aunts, uncles, and grandparent, and many special four-legged friends.

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