Gerald "Jay" Lohman

1943 - 2025

Gerald "Jay" B. Lohman, Jr., long-time resident of Rock Creek (Kellogg, IA), died at his home on October 30, 2025. He was 82.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, November 9, 2025, from 1-4 pm at the Grinnell Brewhouse, 923 Main Street, Grinnell, Iowa.

In lieu of flowers or plants, memorials can be donated to the Drake Community Library in Grinnell or the Friends of Rock Creek.

He was born on August 23, 1943, in Springfield, Illinois, to Gerald B. Lohman, Sr. and Maxine L. (Cline) Lohman. Jay grew up in Burlington, Iowa, and graduated from Burlington High School in 1961. He proudly served in the US Marine Corps for three years in the Far East and Southern California.

Upon discharge, he attended and graduated from Burlington Community College in 1966. While attending Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State) in Kirksville, Missouri, Jay married Jane Warth of New London on December 10, 1966. He graduated from NMSU in May 1968 with a BS degree.

Jay's insurance career began with three exciting years in Chicago, followed by numerous positions and relocations before spending 12 memorable years in Alta, Iowa, with Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company as a senior marketing representative. While in Alta, he proudly served on the school board. He moved to the company's headquarters in Grinnell in 1989, where he worked until his retirement in 2009. He will be remembered at GMRC for his outgoing personality and for hosting entertaining marketing parties.

Jay always had a "to do" list that he was working on in his man cave, when he wasn't tending to his yard, Hosta beds, koi pond, and water garden. He drew significant enjoyment from birdwatching and spotting wildlife around the US—an appreciation easily seen in his duck decoy collection. Jay was an avid reader and felt that the Drake Community Library in Grinnell was very special.

Traveling with his soul mate, Jane, throughout the US and around the world was always a grand adventure. Of all of God's blessings, being part of the exciting lives of their four wonderful children and four grandchildren was a constant joy and highlight.

Gerald is survived by his beloved wife, Jane; son Gerald (Jerry) B. Lohman III (Jaew) of Coralville, Iowa; daughter Gretchen Lohman (James Koeppe) of Springfield, Illinois; sons John (Aspen) Lohman and James Lohman, both of North Liberty; and grandchildren John Quincy Lohman of Milwaukee, Maya Lohman Koeppe and Sean Lohman Koeppe of Springfield, Illinois, and Lucy Lohman of North Liberty.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Anne, and his parents.