Gerald Zager

July 21, 1935 - March 5, 2010

Gerald Thor Zager, 74, of Prescott Valley, AZ passed away Friday March 5, 2010 at the Yavapai Regional Medical Center in Prescott Valley, AZ. 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 , Washington 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 of 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 Arizona. 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 (Patti) Zager of St. Paul, Minnesota ; Barb Zager of Marshalltown , Iowa ; Michael (Sue) Zager of Prescott Valley, Arizona; Maya 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 IA.  Services entrusted to Sunrise Funeral Home.