Douglas Edwin Geerdes

       Douglas (Doug) Edwin Geerdes passed away on July 20, 2023, at the age of 70.

      Doug was born June 6, 1953 and was the second son of Edwin and Ellen (Hirt) Geerdes. He was raised on the Geerdes family farm south of Everly, Iowa.  He graduated from Everly Community School. Afterwards, he attended Iowa State University majoring in Animal Science where he excelled in livestock and meat judging.  He married Kathryn Ann (Wede) Geerdes on June 2, 1978, and shortly after they moved to the family farm. Doug and Kathy were blessed with six children.

      Doug put his heart into farming.  Livestock was his passion and the focus of his work. On his farm, he proudly had a farrow-to-finish swine operation and a cow-calf herd.  He has two children who continue to operate the now century farm. Doug loved being a grandpa and giving tractor and four-wheeler rides to his grandkids. He also enjoyed taking livestock to the Clay County Fair where he and his family have shown for the last 40 years.

      Doug was preceded in death by his father, Edwin Theodore Geerdes; his brother, Dwight “Joe” Geerdes; and his sister-in-law Barbara (Dale) Geerdes, and his in-laws, Clarence and Shirley (Toft) Wede.

      Doug is survived by his wife of 45 years, Kathy; by his mother, Ellen Geerdes, brothers: Dale, John (Karen), and Dean (Peg) Geerdes; his six children; Sara Geerdes, Lee (Katie) Geerdes, Laura (Mark) Siems, Emily Geerdes, Eddie (Emily) Geerdes, Stacey (Nate) Benson, seven grandchildren Lilly, Taylor, Elizabeth, Logan, Josie, Marshal, and Jason, and other relatives and many friends.

MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS

In lieu of flowers, the family requests monetary donations that will be divided between the Clay County Fair’s “Pen by Pen” charity which is funding new pens for the livestock pavilion and the Walsh Family Village in Sioux Falls, SD. The Walsh Village and its amazing staff housed and supported the Geerdes family during trying times while Doug was hospitalized at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls.