Jerald Leland Staley

Jerald Leland Staley, 87, of Hampton, Iowa, passed away peacefully on December 05, 2019, at Franklin General Hospital in Hampton, Iowa. He was born on February 22, 1932, in Franklin County, Iowa, to Glen and Merna (Hamilton) Staley. After graduating from Hampton High School in 1950, Jerry continued to Iowa State University and received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Husbandry in 1954. While attending Iowa State, he was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity (initiation number 606), the Iowa State Collegiate Livestock Judging Team, and the Iowa State Wrestling Team's practice squad. Jerry joined the United States Army after graduating college and served in France as a milk inspector; Honorably Discharged on June 30, 1962. Jerry returned to Iowa State and completed his Master of Science degree in Animal Husbandry. Married to Carolou Anne Jackson in 1953, they had three children together and later divorced. Jerry returned to Hampton and worked with his father running the Hampton Sales Company (livestock sale barn) in Hampton. He also started a career as a broker and farm manager, founding Staley Real Estate and Farm Management. Jerry enjoyed the challenge of buying farms, improving them, and then re-selling them. An active member in the Hampton Community, Jerry served on the Franklin County Board of Revue for many years, was a member of the Shriners and trained in the El Kahir Kaliphs cycle Patrol out of Hampton, performing in its parade motor pool, a 4-H sheep project leader, a member of the Anchor Masonic Lodge #191, and Elks, IA No. 1674. Jerry was a common sight for those in the community, whether it was in parking lots on a hot summer day practicing for Shriners parade duty, at household and farm sales performing his self-taught auctioneering cadence, at farmer-coffee hot spots like the Co-op, Stockdale's, or the commodity trading office, or at Hampton High sporting events (he rarely missed a game when his children and grandchildren played). It would not take anyone long to figure out that Jerry was an avid Iowa State supporter and sports fan. He has been an Iowa State Football season ticket holder since Jack Trice Stadium was built, and frequently attended wrestling meets, men's and women's basketball games. He made sure to watch on TV when he could not attend in person. Jerry passed on his love of Iowa State to his children and grandchildren. One Christmas, he did give some of his great-grandson's Iowa apparel (intentionally) and immediately his sanity was questioned by his family. Jerry enjoyed the sport of Collegiate Wrestling, and attended NCAA Wrestling Nationals with his brothers and Lawrence Hamilton's family for many years. He also liked to play cards (Poker, Bridge and Cribbage) with friends, family, or strangers and would find places to play in his spare time. Jerry is survived by his three children: daughter Teresa (Dave) Fox of Hampton, son Brad (Susan) Staley of Hampton, daughter Tami Ridout of Eldora, his six grandchildren: Tara (Sean) Lyons of Seattle, WA, Erik Fox of Zumbrota, MN, Kyle Staley of Clive, IA, Megan (Brandon) Fischer of Underwood, IA, Morgan Ridout of West Des Moines, IA, Gavin Ridout of Eldora, IA, his eight great-grandsons: Christopher, Charles, Jonathon, Michael & William Lyons and Brody, Leo and Beckett Fischer, brother Darrell (Julie) Staley of Nevada, sister Judith McVeigh of Colorado and numerous nieces and nephews, and long-time close friend Donna Fae Schepers of Ames. He was preceded in death by his parents, infant brother Jack, brother Robert, brother James and sister-in-law Joyce. Memorials may be directed to the Franklin County Fair Livestock Pavilion. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, December 9, 2019, at the Sietsema Vogel Funeral Home in Hampton. Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Sunday, December 8, 2019, at the Sietsema Vogel Funeral Home in Hampton. Burial will take place in the Union Cemetery in Iowa Falls.

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Jerald Leland Staley

February 22, 1932 - December 5, 2019