Obituary

Gerald (“Jerry”) Elvin Huyser’s life on this earth ended on January 4, 2026, just hours shy of his 95th birthday. Born in Pella, Iowa, on January 5, 1931, he was the youngest of Frank and Gertrude (Bloem) Huyser’s five children. Growing up on Pella-area farms before the family settled on a farm east of Monroe, Iowa, he attended country schools and later graduated from Pella Christian High School.

Jerry continued to farm with his parents until their retirement in 1961, when he moved to Des Moines, Iowa, and began working as a clerk with the Iowa Department of Revenue. On a trip with a friend to Denver, Colorado, he met his bride-to-be, Dorothy Geraldine Tien, of Prairie View, Kansas, on a blind date. They married on August 28, 1964, at the Luctor (Kansas) CRC.

Born to this marriage were three sons: Kent, Kevin, and Kurt. Making their home in Urbandale, Iowa, Jerry transitioned to an accounting clerk position with Standard Oil in Clive, Iowa, where he worked for 25 years, retiring in 1992. Leaving their Urbandale home of 52 years in 2017, Jerry and Dorothy moved to Walnut Ridge Independent Living in Clive, Iowa, where Jerry’s quick smile and genuine interest in others soon established an additional community of friends and support.

A life-long witness to God’s mercy and grace, Jerry served on consistories and in various ministries at the Des Moines CRC (now Crossroads Fellowship CRC). In retirement he remained active by serving in various church ministries and volunteering with the Des Moines Methodist Hospital, the Bibles for Missions Thrift Store in Pella, Crossroads Prison Ministries, and the Urbandale Caring Corps by driving the elderly and disabled to and from needed appointments. A joyful servant until his passing, Jerry continued to drive those in need as well as Walnut Ridge friends to appointments and on errands.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, as well as his siblings: Elizabeth (Ed) Memmelaar, James (Ruth) Huyser, William (Alvina) Huyser, and Frank Huyser. He was also preceded in death by his in-laws: Alfred and Henrietta Van Kooten, John Bousema, Theron Tien, Kenneth and Joyce Brower, Herman Verhoef, and Wayne Van Beek. He is survived by Wilma Huyser, Marie Bousema, Thelma Tien, Arlo and Carolyn Tien, Edward and Barbara Tien, Rosalie Verhoef, Carmen Van Beek, many nieces and nephews, and by his BELOVED wife of 61 years, Dorothy, and their grateful family:

Kent and Bonnie Huyser and their family - Alyssa Huyser (LeBron, Malachi); Travis and Candice Huyser (Bennett, Weston); Emma and Travis Bouwman (Bodhi); Mariah Huyser

Kevin and Sara Huyser and their family - Nathan and Lizzy Rice-Huyser; Betsy and Carter Foughty (Maple, Esther)

Kurt and Gloria Huyser and their son - Benjamin Huyser.

Jerry’s family will greet friends from 1:00 pm to 1:45 pm Saturday, January 10, 2026 with a Memorial Service at 2:00 pm at Crossroads Fellowship Christian Reformed Church, 1200 60th Street, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266. A reception will follow the church service. Private family burial at McDivitt Grove Cemetery, Urbandale, Iowa will be prior to services.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Luke Society (www.lukesociety.org/donations) or the Crossroads Prison Ministries (cpministires.org/donate)

Jerry's service from the church will be livestreamed by going to the following links a few minutes prior to service time on Saturday: https://www.youtube.com/@CrossroadsFellowshipCRC or http://www.crossroads-crc.org/


Online condolences are welcome at www.ilescares.com

Arrangements by Iles Westover Chapel

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