Jerry Lee Mason's Obituary
Jerry Lee Mason, 81 of Corydon, Iowa passed away December 14, 2025 at the Wayne County Hospital.
Jerry Lee Mason was born October 17, 1944 to David Charles and Crystal Fern Spicer Mason in Sac City, Iowa. Jerry accepted Jesus as his Savior and was baptized in the Christian Church on September 27th 1953. After graduating from Sac high School in 1962 Jerry worked for his uncle Red Spicer for one year when he enlisted in the US Navy. He went to boot camp in San Diego, California and trained in the naval aviation technical training center in Millington, Tennessee. He served as an aviation fire control technician in Squadron VA 85, the Black Falcons.
Jerry went on two campaigns on the Kitty Hawk in the Vietnam war and was honorably discharged in July 1967. Jerry enrolled in Iowa State University to study Farm Operations. It was there that he met and married Leslie Tschopp on December 27, 1969. Six children were born to this union; Alyssa, Jeffrey, Lee, Elaina, Kit and Kristina. After graduating college, he worked for Farmers Home Administration and then for 4x4 Walnut Grove as a feed salesman in Wayne County where he met many longtime friends. In 1973 he bought a hog farm and raised hogs for many years. In 1974 when his first corn crop was in doubt, he prayed to God that if God would allow him a successful crop he would help someone. God answered his prayer and in return Jerry sponsored three Asian refugee families from Laos as a response to the Iowa governor Ray's request to give humanitarian assistance. Jerry was active in the American Red Cross for over 35 years, serving Wayne County and surrounding counties and traveling to more than 20 national disasters, earning him the honor of Red Cross Volunteer of the Year for Eastern Iowa. During the 1980s drought he joined the Farm Bureau and NFO hay lift, traveling to Idaho and helping put up small hay bales for Southern Iowa cattlemen. Jerry traveled to Ukraine twice on trips sponsored by ICI in a farmer to farmer effort where he collaborated with Ukraine entrepreneur hopefuls on farm management. He made one trip to Russia with Land O' Lakes where he helped a Russian farmer with business plans to establish an independent farming business. Jerry was a member of the Wayne County Optimist Club for over 30 years to serve local youth and he was on the board of the ISU parents association serving as co-president for one year.
Jerry was a world traveler and enjoyed trips to Hong Kong, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, the Bahamas, Hawaii, Virgin Islands, Ukraine and Russia. In later years Jerry loved spending time at home hunting and working on the farm.
Jerry's greatest legacy is his children whom he dearly loved and for whom he would do anything. Jerry knew that the Lord was leading him and his family all their life and he gave thanks to God for all His blessings.
Jerry is survived by wife Leslie, children Alyssa (Todd) Wilson, Jeffrey (Nichole) Mason, Lee (Rachel) Mason, Elaina Mason (Aaron Whitlow), Kit (Ashley) Mason and Kristina (Curt) Ross. Grandchildren, Dustin (Shania) Wilson, Dakota (Amber) Wilson, Abigail Clark, Caleb Clark, Mckinley Mason, Kenai Mason, Cooper Mason, Rhiannon Mason, Remington Mason, Winchester Mason, Westley Mason, Lancaster Mason, Brooklyn Mason, Madison Mason, Lincoln Mason, Franklin Mason, Ivey Ross, Demey Ross, Xander Ross. Great grandchildren, Carter Wilson, Addy Wilson, Tucker Wilson, Walker Wilson, River Wilson, Rory Wilson, and Rebel Wilson. Siblings, Jack (Judy) Mason, Jeanette (Tom) Kentner and Charles Mason, sister-in-law, Diane Mason.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Richard and Mike Mason, granddaughter Zoey Ross, sister-in-law, Linda Mason.
A Graveside Service for Jerry will be held at Cambria Cemetery on Thursday, December 18, 2025 at 11:00 AM. Memorials in honor of Jerry may be made to The Family of Jerry Mason and sent to Thomas Funeral Home P.O. Box 294 Corydon, IA 50060. Condolences may be shared online at https://www.thomasfh.com or https://www.facebook.com/thomasfuneralhome .
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