ZAGER, Gerald Thor

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Monday, March 8, 2010 Gerald Thor Zager, 74, of Prescott Valley, Ariz., passed away Friday, March 5, 2010, at the Yavapai Regional Medical Center in Prescott Valley, Ariz. He was born July 21, 1935, in Carroll, Iowa, the son of Stanly Merle Zager and Mary Ellen (Ryan) Zager. He was raised in Washington, Iowa, and graduated from Washington High with the Class of 1954. He then attended the University of Iowa for two years before transferring to Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago. Following his graduation from Worsham, Jerry worked for Estel-Perrin Funeral Home in Marshalltown. Two years later he moved to Seattle, Wash., and took a job with Butterworth's Funeral Home. He later returned to Iowa and worked for the Cecil Goettsch Funeral Home in Monticello. In November 1965, Jerry purchased Bybee & Davis Funeral Home in Knoxville from Clarence Miers and Barbara Whitlatch-Brubaker. Jerry purchased an additional location, Mason Funeral Home in Pleasantville, in the fall of 1984. In 2000, Jerry sold his interest in the funeral homes to his son, Ray Bertrand. In 2005, he moved to Prescott Valley, Ariz. Jerry is preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Ronald Zager. He is survived by his partner/girl friend, Betty Pierce of Prescott; his children, Scott (Patty) Zager of St. Paul, Minn., Barb Zager of Marshalltown, Iowa, Michael (Sue) Zager of Prescott Valley, Ariz., Maja Clayton (Scott) of Grinnell, Larry (Becky) Bertrand of St. Mary's, Iowa, Ray (Danielle) Bertrand of Knoxville, Iowa, and Dan Zager of Pleasantville, Iowa; sister, Dolores (Frank) Burns of Iowa City, Iowa; brothers, Mike (Gloria) Zager of Knoxville, Iowa, and Steve (Sheila) Zager of Burlington, Iowa; and 12 grandchildren. Funeral services and burial will be in Knoxville, Iowa. Services entrusted to Sunrise Funeral Home. Information provided by survivors.