Jerilea Voss

MASON CITY — Jerrilea Voss, 61, of 223½ 5th St. N.E, died Tuesday (March 8, 2005) at her home.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 3rd St. N.E., Mason City, with the Rev. Jim Stiles, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday and one hour prior to services at the funeral chapel on Tuesday.

Memorials may be given to North Iowa Humane Society.

Jerrilea Voss was born Feb. 10, 1944, at Minneapolis, Minn., the daughter of   Raymond and Esther Jane (Mitchell) Voss Beal. Her father, Raymond Voss, was killed in action during World War II and never met Jerrilea. She continued to remember and honor him each and every Memorial Day. As a result, Jerrilea held a special bond with her mother, Esther Jane, which lasted her lifetime.

Jerrilea spent the first six months of her life hospitalized and faced many medical challenges throughout her life, all the while, she remained fiercely independent. A graduate of Mason City High School, she attended Iowa Lakes Community College, Estherville.

For several years, Jerrilea maintained detailed weather charts of local weather conditions, tracking the information in a special book. She loved animals, especially her cats. Jerrilea was active in the Democratic Party, promoting issues for those with special needs. She attended both county and state Democratic caucuses, to help advance the issues for others.

She is survived by her sister, Sharon (Mark) Zuehlke, Mason City; a niece, Amy Bjerke and her fiancée, Matt Hunt, Nora Springs and children, Jordan Bjerke, Andrew Bjerke and Brendon Hunt; a nephew, Aaron Madsen and his daughter, Makayla Madsen, Mason City; an aunt, Ruth Farrow, Perham, Minn.; a special friend, Sharon Carmody, Mason City and several cousins.

Her parents; step-father, John D. Beal; and a brother, Larry Beal, preceded her in death.

(Published March 13, 2005 - Mason City Globe Gazette)