Gerald Nesteby

Thursday, May 21, 2015 6:40 pm

Gerald Nesteby, 92, our father, father-in-law, grandpa, great-grandpa, oil man, bus driver and a member of the Elkader Country Club Seniors Foursome left us in peace Monday, May 18, 2015, at the Veterans Hospital in Iowa City. Funeral services were at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 21, at Peace United Church of Christ in Elkader, with Pastor Andrea Mericle officiating. Interment with military honors was at the East Side Cemetery, Elkader. Visitation was 9:30- 10:30 a.m. Thursday, at the Church. Leonard Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Elkader was in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left with leonardfuneralhomes.com.

Gerald was born Sept. 22, 1922, in Decorah, and he was most proud of being a World War II veteran, serving in the United States Army in the Aleutian Islands. He was a member of the VFW and had a special trip with other servicemen to Washington, D.C. on a 2011 Honor Flight. Gerald and Dorothy Nesteby were married in 1947, and raised two sons, Gary (Judy) and Robert. He has four grandchildren: Tracy (Darwin), Brandon (Christie), Alison and Michael (Melanie); seven great-grandchildren: Skylar and Spencer Dede, Taylor and Brystol Nesteby, Alexis, Alexander and Elana Nesteby. He also had a special puppy friend, Chloe, to pet and calm him down in troubled times.

Those family members preceding Gerald in death include his parents; three brothers; his son Robert in 2006; and his wife Dorothy in Nov., 2014.
Gerald was a dedicated businessman in Elkader and Clayton County. He was the owner of the Central Oil Company for over 30 years and spent 32 years driving the school bus for Central Community School District in Elkader. His oil company customers could always count on his services being delivered on time and with a personal relationship. His bus riders could always count on riding in the first seat behind the driver if they misbehaved! He was an avid golfer, fisherman and family man. After 68 years of marriage and the loss of his wife, Dorothy, Gerald lost his will to live and remained comfortable in the Elkader care Center and the VA Hospital where he was treated with extraordinary care by extraordinary nurses and doctors. His family appreciates all of the friends and caregivers in making his final months and days as good as they could be.