Funeral services for Jerry D. Evelsizer, 93, of Fairmont, MN, will be held at Saturday, March 21, at 11 am at Bethel Evangelical Free Church in Fairmont. Those wishing to view the service may do so at https://www.bethel-fairmont.org. Burial will be held Monday, March 23, at 11 am at Brethren Cemetery in Panora, IA. The Lakeview Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Fairmont is assisting the family with the arrangements.
Jerry Dean Evelsizer was born in Jefferson, IA, on May 7, 1932, to William and Mabel (Teagarden) Evelsizer. Five years later, he would be joined by his only sibling sister Marilyn “Jo.” At age 11, Jerry was baptized at Central Christian Church in Jefferson after he accepted Jesus as his Savior.
Jerry graduated from Jefferson High School in 1950 and later that year met Mary Ann Rice. It didn’t take long for love to blossom, and they were married a few months later on March 4, 1951, at Central Christian Church. This marriage was blessed with three living children, Dennis, Robert, and Diana. A son, Steven, died at birth. During this time, Jerry worked as a clerk in a shoe store in Jefferson.
In 1959, after feeling called to ministry, Jerry began four years of undergraduate studies at Drake University in Des Moines. Upon graduation, he enrolled in seminary at Drake and graduated four years later with his Master of Divinity, all while working fulltime as a youth pastor in Boone, and then pastoring a congregation in Coon Rapids.
Jerry and Mary served five churches in Iowa before retiring in 1995. After retiring, Jerry and Mary made their home in Ogden for 17 years. During this time, he served as an interim pastor in a number of churches. Jerry and Mary moved to Fairmont in 2012 due to Mary’s declining health.
In 2014, Jerry became Pastor of Visitation for Bethel Evangelical Free Church where he also led an adult Sunday school class, small group, the Wednesday noon prayer group, and preached on occasion.
While in Fairmont, Jerry also served on the board of directors at Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center.
After his Lord Jesus Christ and wife Mary, Jerry’s greatest love has been his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Jerry loved to hunt and fish and just savoring the outdoors and passed on this love to family. Some of the greatest family memories have been made at Sunset Bay Resort on Baby Lake near Hackensack, MN, where, as many family members as can make it, have vacationed every summer for the past 56 years.
Jerry passed away March 12, 2026, at Lakeview Methodist Healthcare Center at the age of 93 years. Preceding him in death were his parents, wife Mary, and son Steven.
Left to cherish his memory are two sons, Dennis (Cathy) Evelsizer of Decorah, IA, and Dr. Robert (Gwen) Evelsizer of Fairmont; his daughter Diana (Donald) Morgan of Iowa City; grandchildren Dan Evelsizer, Vince (Andrea) Evelsizer, Jana (John) Evelsizer-Olson, Ross (Laura) Evelsizer, Dr. Stephen (Annie) Evelsizer, Sara (Steve) Gibbs, Dr. Andrew (Madeline) Evelsizer, Aimee (Andy) Comer, Gina (Dan) Bartleson, and Lisa (Oscar) Hernandez; and 21 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Jo Juhl Johnson; sisters-in-law Joyce (Edward) Hassing and Lola Booth; nephews and nieces; and exchange student Leonardo DiNello from Milan, Italy.
