Gerald “Jerry” Kent

Gerald Kay Kent was born on July 27, 1934, to parents Caryl and Leona (Whaley) Kent in Webster City. He grew up and attended school in Webster City. Jerry attended the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia for two years and later attended Drake University and AIB in Des Moines. He also served in the United States Army from 1954- 1957.

On July 25, 1955, Gerald married Alveda Hazel Widick at a small country church by her home surrounded by friends and family. Jerry and Alveda met when she and her parents took eggs to town to sell at the grocery store where Jerry worked. They were blessed with three children: Theresa, Deborah, and Rebecah. The couple lived in the Webster City area where they raised their family, and Jerry worked as the City Clerk of Webster City for 30 years and Alveda worked as a cook at Elm Park School.

Jerry was an active member of Stanhope Parish and was the pianist for the church. He was a member of Kiwanis, the American Legion Post #191 and enjoyed routine coffee with the guys at Sparky’s. Jerry was well respected by his peers, the community and dedicated to his work. He was strong in his faith, honest, happy and loved.

Jerry will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him. Survivors include his daughters, Deborah Haren Caruth (Douglas) of Alden, IA, and Rebecah Thompson (Larry) of Galveston, TX; son-in-law, Al Draeger of Webster City; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; many other extended family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife Alveda in January 2022; his parents; daughter, Theresa Draeger; grandson, BJ Gifford; and siblings, Rachael Brown and Merlin Kent (Anne).

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left in memory of Jerry to the Stanhope Parish.