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Robert D. Kerdus, 80

Jan 18, 2015

Mason City Robert Dean Kerdus, age 80, of Mason City, Iowa, died Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015, at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa, Mason City, from pneumonia complicated by emphysema.

A funeral service was held Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015, at Grace United Methodist Church, in Mason City.

Robert Dean Kerdus was born July 31, 1934, to William and Genevieve (Marsh) Kerdus at their home in Mason City. Bob graduated from Mason City High School in 1952, after which he joined the United States Air Force. He was stationed at the Pease Air Force base in Portsmith, N.H. After being honorably discharged he worked at the Portsmith Shipyard in Portsmith, N.H., where he met Ernestine (Tina) Blanche Dimond. The two were married and to their union came two sons, Danny and Russell. Bob was transferred to Rock Island, Ill., where he worked at the Rock Island Arsenal until his retirement in 1988.

Bob married Jan Harthan-Kerdus on May 3, 1991, in Sioux Falls, S.D., and with this union Bob gained six stepchildren. In his free time, Bob worked at the Johnson Sign Company, watched the Chicago Cubs or the Chicago Bears (depending on the season), fished, hunted, and played cards almost every day at the senior center.

He was very proud of the big walleye he caught while on a fishing trip with his brother-in-law, Gary. Bob also gave blood and had given gallons over the years as he was a rare blood type. He was a member of the Grace United Methodist Church, the Mason City VFW and rang the Salvation Army bell every holiday season.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife, Jan Harthan-Kerdus of Mason City; his sons, Danny (Tammy) Kerdus, Union, N.H., and Russell Kerdus, Rochester, N.H.; grandsons, Adam and Zachary Kerdus; brother, Richard Kerdus; sisters, Bev (Ben) Cordes, Alta Vista, Iowa, Mary (Gary) Rockwell, of Mason City, and Barb Dirks, Elmore; sister-in-law, Reta Kerdus, Mason City; stepson Alan Ver Helst, Minneapolis; stepdaughters, Lynn Ver Helst, Madison, Wis., Jean Ver Helst-Enting, Minneapolis, Sally Ver Helst, San Diego, Cali., Mary Ver Helst, Garner, Iowa, Jill Ver Helst-Ethington, Rudd, Iowa; Ernestine (Tina) Blanche Dimond, Rochester, N.H.; nieces and nephews, Brian (Tanya) Dirks, Sioux Falls, S.D., Eric Dirks, Lincoln, Neb., Mike Reindl, Mason City, Nathan (Heather) Rockwell, of Mason City, Brenda (Scott) Snyder, Fairmont, Susan (Rande) Stearns, Mason City, Deb (Dave) Patrick, Mason City, Lori (Steve) Wagner, Albert Lea, Julie (Dave) Jansen, Wells, Steve (Anna) Reindl, Manly, Iowa, Mary (Dave) Roddy, Penfield, N.Y., Beth Jones, Iowa City, Iowa and Victoria Dunlap, St. Louis, Mo.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents, William and Genevieve Kerdus, brother Bill Kerdus, sister Carol, and a niece Kim.