Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
BORN
1940
DIED
2025
FUNERAL HOME
Jerry Key Obituary
A Private Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. The Reiff family Center – Funeral Home & Crematory is assisting the family with arrangements.
Jerry was born on December 9, 1940, in Coring, Iowa, the son of Lloyd and Edna M. (Weese) Key. He grew up on a farm in rural Blockton, Iowa, and was a 1959 graduate of Blockton High School in Blockton, Iowa. Jerry spent the next few years living throughout Colorado and working various jobs. He moved to Omaha, Nebraska in late 1961, where he met Kathleen A. Manzer through friends. They quickly fell for each other and were married on June 30, 1962.
They made their home in Independence in 1965, and Jerry went to work in the foundry at John Deere in Waterloo, Iowa. Jerry worked there for just over twenty-five years and retired in 1990. Jerry and Kathleen moved back to Blockton where he helped on a friend's farm and ran a small mowing business, just to stay busy.
Outside of work, Jerry did all he could for his family. He was an amazing father and made sure to teach his children a strong work ethic, and to take responsibility for their actions. He enjoyed spending time outside. He often went hunting and ice fishing. Jerry had a passion for gardening. And taught his children everything he knew. Every year he planted hundreds of tomato plants and often grew more food than his family needed. He sold and often gave away all the extra vegetables that he grew.
He is survived by his wife, Kathleen Key, Independence; his children, Mitchell (Mariann) Key, Weldon, Iowa, and Kelly Key, Fayette, Iowa; eight grandchildren: Harley, Ethan, LeeAnn, Christian, Jackie, Jennifer, Chris, and Jacob; nine great-grandchildren; one brother; Marvin Key, Raymond, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.
Jerry is preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Edna Key; six brothers: Donald, Harry, Vern, Louis, Albert, and Harold Key; and two sisters, Rose-Emma Owen Key and Minni Ellen Fremeyer.
To leave an online condolence please go to www.reifffamilycenter.com under obituaries.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Jerry Key
Sponsored by Reiff Family Center - Funeral Home & Crematory.
0 Entries
Be the first to post a memory or condolences.
Make a Donation
in Jerry Key's name
Memorial Events
for Jerry Key
Funeral services provided by:
Reiff Family Center - Funeral Home & Crematory216 3rd Ave. SE, Independence, IA 50644
How to support Jerry's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor Jerry Key's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
