Gerald Caffery, 69

December 11, 1955- 

April 18, 2025

 

Cresco- Gerald "Gerry" Caffrey, 69, of Cresco, IA, died on Friday, April 18, 2025, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in LaCrosse, WI, with family by his side.

Memorial Services for Gerry was held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 25, 2025, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Cresco with Pastor Erik Hoefer officiating. Inurnment was held at New Oregon Cemetery in Cresco, IA. Visitation was held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 24 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, and  continued from 10:00-11:00 a.m. at the church on Friday. Hindt-Hudek Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Gerald Robert Caffrey was born on December 11, 1955, in Cresco, Iowa, to Leo and Wilma (Schultz) Caffrey. Gerry snuck out the back door of Crestwood High School with the class of 1974. He began working for United Shippers and then Bonair Ag while continuing to farm with his dad. At the age of 5, he was witnessed by a neighbor driving a tractor down the country road and has continued pouring his heart and soul into farming throughout his adult life. Gerry was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need.

On April 19, 1980, Gerry married Cherri Peter at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Lime Springs. Gerry and Cherri were one day shy of celebrating their 45 th wedding anniversary when he passed. Together the couple raised two children Daniel and Rebecca on the Caffrey family farm. Gerry looked forward to deer hunting every winter and fishing in the summer, frying up rosettes in the shop at Christmas time, and during Spring and Fall fieldwork enjoying a cold Busch Light at the end of the day "Safety Meetings". He was also a lifetime member of the Cresco Wildlife Club. Gerry was a very social man, who easily made friends wherever he went. He enjoyed trying his luck at the casino, and rounds of BINGO at the Mighty Howard County Fair with his daughter, Becky. "Gramps" was so proud of his two grandsons, Brayden and Bryce. He loved attending their sporting events and watching the young men they are growing into. He cherished the moments spent farming alongside his son, Dano and his grandsons, passing down not just skills, but a legacy of love for the land.

Gerry is survived by his wife Cherri Caffrey of Cresco; son Daniel "Dano" (Jaime) Caffrey of Charles City, IA, and their two sons Brayden and Bryce; daughter Rebecca "Becky" Caffrey of Cresco; siblings Kathy (Ken) Abrams of Ocala, FL, John (Pat) Caffrey of Oakton, VA, Linda (Bruce) Moudry of Evansdale, IA, Bill Caffrey of Cresco, Deb Caffrey of Springfield, IL, and Mike (Louie Gjere) Caffrey of Cresco; sister-in-law Char (Bill) Ferrie of Spring Valley, MN; brother-in- law Jim (Pam Frana) Peter of Cresco; and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents Leo and Wilma Caffrey and his father and mother-in-law Herbert and Dorothy Peter.