Jerry Brower

Jerry Brower, age 66, lifelong resident of rural Willow Lake, died peacefully on Tuesday night, October 8, 2013 at his farm home near Willow Lake, with his wife Arlene at his side. He had fought a battle with lung cancer for the past year. A memorial visitation will be held on Friday from 5-7PM with a Liturgical Wake service beginning at 7PM all in the St. Mary's Catholic Church at Bryant. The Reverend John Short will lead the service. Morning prayers will be held on Saturday at 10AM at the St. Mary's Church in Bryant with congregational singing and Father Short leading the prayers. Everyone will then travel to the St. James Catholic Cemetery at Willow Lake for the interment. Following the interment, everyone is invited into the St. James Hall at Willow Lake for a dinner. He was born Jerry Don Brower on June 6, 1947 at Willow Lake, the son of Ray and Ruth (Peterson) Brower. He attended school at Willow Lake and graduated in 1965. Following some business school education and attending Huron College, Jerry returned to the farm. On December 27, 1969 he was united in marriage to Arlene Kelzer at Bryant. The couple has lived and farmed, also raising small grain and Hereford cattle since that time in Hague Township. Raising cattle was a very important aspect of his farming life. He retired in March of 2012. In addition to farming, Jerry worked at McCain Foods in Clark for 12 years. Over the years he enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was a member of St. James Catholic Church in Willow Lake until its closing. Jerry had served on the building committee and on the Parish Council at the Church. He was a member of the Willow Lake Lions. Jerry enjoyed wood-working and vacationing to the Black Hills, second to none though was his love of being with his family, especially the grandchildren. Preceding him in death were his parents, siblings Jean and James and his in-laws, Ed and Viola Kelzer. Grateful for having shared in his life is his wife Arlene of Willow Lake, children, Lisa (Jeff) Clauson and children, Joslynn & Rosemarie of Sioux Falls, Jennifer (Jeff) Thompson and children, Christian & Carlee of Omaha, NE and Kathy (Jesse) VanHeukelom and children Maverick, Everett and Ruth of Huron. A sister, Judy (Verdon) Kretzschmar of Custer also survives along with a host of other relatives. Memorials would be preferred to the Prairie Lakes Hospital Foundation - Caring Club House at Watertown or the South Dakota Lions Eye and Tissue Bank at Sioux Falls. Please find the information on the funeral home web site under Jerry's obituary, on the right hand side. The Furness Funeral Home of Clark is serving the family where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com