Jerome "Jerry" John Westcott

Jerome “Jerry” John Westcott, 89, of Arnolds Park, died Sunday, October 3, 2021, at Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake. A mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, October 7, 2021, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milford. Burial will be held in the Calvary Cemetery in Milford. Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday at the Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Jerome “Jerry” John Westcott was born to Cecil (Bill) and Alice Westcott on December 21, 1931, in Nemaha, Iowa. As a child, Jerry enjoyed farming, sports - especially baseball, and the outdoors. He also attended Boys State. Immediately following his graduation from Nemaha High School in 1950, he started his agricultural career as a crop and livestock farmer. Tending to the land, milking dairy cows, raising hogs, and chasing around the sheep that always seemed to find a way to jump the fence, filled Jerry’s days. He was a loyal fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and the Iowa State Cyclones. As a young man he wasn’t one to stay home on a Saturday night, Jerry met Pat Uren at the Cobblestone Dance Hall in Storm Lake, Iowa. He was known as quite the dancer - always saying he “could dance those little legs off!” Jerry may have won the Jitterbug contest the night before with another partner, but he danced Pat into a love that lasted the rest of his life. They married on May 31, 1958, in Varina, Iowa. A few years later Jerry and Pat started their family of 3 children - Mark, Lynn, and Beth - and moved from Albert City to the farm in Sioux Rapids. Jerry always said, “I took Pat out of the gutter and put her on her dad’s farm!” His children brought him great joy. He encouraged them educationally to strive to be as smart as he was, being in the Top 10 of his class… of 9 students. You could always count on Jerry to keep you laughing and on your toes with a witty comeback or a joke that grazed the lines. In addition to raising his family and farming, he also enjoyed spending his time on the golf course, socializing with friends, and supporting the Sioux Rapids Booster Club. He was even known as Father Westcott for one day of the Diocese’s Baseball Tournament when he had to step in as a coach. Jerry and Pat sold the farm and retired to Arnolds Park, Iowa in 2000. He spent his retirement years traveling with Pat and various friends. Their most common trips were the 20+ winters they spent in Arizona. Switzerland, Nashville, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Cancun also made for a few memorable vacations. But the trips Jerry most enjoyed were to the Iowa Freedom Rocks. Jerry was able to visit an impressive 82 of the 99 Iowa counties that featured these unique pieces of patriotic artwork. He loved spending time with his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and his wife, but it’s a bit unclear where they ranked next to Jerry’s love of ice cream. Left to cherish Jerry’s memory is his wife of 63 years, Pat Westcott, of Arnolds Park; children, Mark Westcott, of Albuquerque, NM; Lynn Westcott (Heidi Moyer), of Milford; Beth Bernhard, of Lone Rock; grandchildren, Tori Westcott, of Colorado Springs, CO; Ashley Westcott, of Colorado Springs, CO; Cody Bernhard, of Bancroft; Dillon Bernhard, of Philadelphia, PA; Heath (Taylor) Bernhard, of Armstrong; great grandchildren, Riley and Jettson; sisters-in-law, Teresa Westcott, of Cherokee; Frances Westcott, of Early; many nieces, nephews, and lifelong, cherished friends. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Cecil (Bill) and Alice Westcott, siblings, Richard Westcott, Marilyn Henrich, and Robert (Bob) Westcott; brother-in-law Ed Henrich; niece, Susan Eakin; son-in-law, John W. Bernhard; grandson, Austin Bernhard.

Jerome "Jerry" John Westcott

December 21, 1931 - October 3, 2021