Gerry Dean Ballantyne

GERRY DEAN BALLANTYNE Gerry Dean Ballantyne was born the son of Gene and Mildred (Vickery) Ballantyne on February 21, 1949 in Joliet, Illinois. He died at his home in Earlham, Iowa on July 19, 2009 at the age of 60 years, 4 months and 28 days. Gerry graduated from Tri Center High School in 1968, and immediately entered the US Navy serving on the USS Sierra until his discharge in 1971. Gerry then attended and graduated from Iowa Western College in Council Bluffs, IA with a LPN nursing certificate. Gerry and Charlene King were married January 1, 1993 in Adel, Iowa. Gerry had numerous occupations in his early career, however he found he enjoyed his LPN position the most and worked at the Earlham Nursing Home, the Community Care Center in Stuart, and retiring from Senior Suites of Urbandale in the fall of 2008. Gerry enjoyed being outdoors, fishing, and spending time with his family. He loved to watch football on television and was an avid "Steelers" fan, however could handle the "Bears" on occasion. Gerry had a passion for writing poetry, and was often called upon to write a poem for some event, card, or situation. Gerry leaves the following family to celebrate his life: wife Charlene of Earlham; daughter Kim Carrier(Travis) of Harlan; son Gerry "Rusty"(Kim) of Harlan; son Richard "Ricky"(Maria) of Harlan; son Caleb of Earlham and daughter Georgia of Earlham; father Gene Ballantyne of Des Moines; brother Gene "Bud"(Sharon) of Pleasant Hill; sister Dianna Sherer(Mike) of Indianola; brother Lester(Doris) of Council Bluffs; sister Susie Kahler(Larry) of Altoona; brother David(Sylvia) of Des Moines; sister Lynann Fischel(Detlev) of New York; 6 grandchildren Jeremy, Whitney, Brett, Brenden, Alissa and Mathias; as well as many nieces and nephews. Gerry was preceded in death by his grandparents; his mother Mildred "Mickey" Ballantyne; brother John Vickrey, sister Marian Klever and a great-grandson Keegan Carrier. In Memory Of Gerry Dean Ballantyne Age 60 Born February 21, 1949 - Joliet, Illinois Died July 19, 2009 - Earlham, Iowa FUNERAL SERVICE 10:30 AM Thursday July 23, 2009 Kuhn Funeral Home Earlham, Iowa OFFICIATING Pastor Robert Taylor - Stuart, Iowa ORGANIST - Clarence Goodall CONGREGATIONAL HYMN "In The Garden" SPECIAL MUSIC "Holes In The Floor Of Heaven" "I Can Only Imagine" "When I Get To Where I'm Going" "Go Rest High On That Mt." PALLBEARERS Caleb Ballantyne Rusty Ballantyne Ricky Ballantyne Travis Carrier Jeremy Carrier Clancy Brown HONORARY PALLBEARERS Brett Ballantyne Brenden Ballantyne MILITARY GRAVESIDE RITES Blockton, Iowa American Legion Post INTERMENT Rose Hill Cemetery - Blockton, Iowa KUHN FUNERAL HOMES Dexter Redfield Earlham www.kuhnfuneralhomes.com YOUR DARLING BOY In dreams I see you dancing there On bright new Christmas morn. The angels singing praises as Great Gabriel sounds his horn. Then Jesus smiles upon you dear And He welcomes you inside. "This is my precious child now home" He said and then He cried. The pains are gone, your body is new And your eyes are bright and clear. No more the sickly ravaged soul That I had known down here. So now in humble gratitude I stop to pray and sing. To praise and glorify the name Of Jesus Christ the King. My dearest I so miss you now And I long to hear your voice, But you are there and I am here, Though this was not my choice. I know that you are safe and loved I know that you know joy. So wait for me, I will be there, Sincerely— "Your Darling Boy" by Gerry Ballantine "Mom, you don't have to wait for me anymore!"