Max L. Kersey

October 29, 1925 - May 6, 2016

Max LeRoy Kersey, 90, of rural Grand Junction, passed away Friday, May 6, 2016 at Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson. Max, son of John and Elsie (Farley) Kersey, was born October 29, 1925 in Jefferson, Iowa. He attended rural school in Greene County and graduated from Grand Junction High School in 1943. Max was united in marriage to Ramona Jane Rhodes on December 28, 1948. They have been happily married for 67 years. They are parents to four daughters; Connie, Linda, Debra and Jacalyn. Max and Ramona farmed, raising corn, soybeans, hay and cattle. He also did a lot of custom farm work, from Churdan to Perry. Max took great pride in his farm work and maintaining his shiny, red equipment. Max & Ramona were honored in 2012 with the Iowa Department of Ag & Land Stewardship Century Farm designation. He enjoyed all of his family time boating and camping, as well as sharing his hobbies of tractor pulling, classic cars, WHO tractor rides and NASCAR races. He and Ramona liked to travel and especially enjoyed going on cruises. They spent the last 20 years together wintering in Mesa, Arizona, creating many fond memories. Max enjoyed many friends and neighbors in Iowa and Arizona, especially the neighborhood card club and T’Bird Club. The activities of his grandchildren and great grandchildren brought many smiles. Max was active in church and community, participating in the Greene County Cattlemen, East Greene School Board and was a long term director at St. Brigid Catholic Church. Max is survived by his wife Ramona; his daughters Connie (Mick) Burkett, Linda (Tim) Tipton, Deb (Randy) Cooklin, and Jacalyn (Kevin) Ostrander; his twelve grandchildren, Chan Burkett, Heather (Anthony) Lohse, Tony (Wendy) Burkett, Andrew (Kelly) Burkett, Jaimi (Paul) Bird, Levi (Jennifer) Tipton, Kashia Cooklin, Stephanie (Nathan) Wedeking, Ryan Cooklin, Kris (Emily) Ostrander, Sara (Ryan) Ostrander, and Reed Ostrander; and nineteen great grandchildren, Seth (Maci) Watts, Cody Burkett, Mason Burkett, Quinn Lohse, Zoey Lohse, Libby Lohse, Josie Burkett, Addie Burkett, Lily Burkett, Samantha Burkett, McKenzie Burkett, Maxwell Bird, Mitchell Bird, Liv Tipton, Charles Cooklin, Kersey Wedeking, George Wedeking, Ella Ostrander and Lincoln Ostrander; his brothers Donald (Janice) Kersey and Darrell (Jo) Kersey; also surviving are nieces and nephews. Max was preceded in death by his infant daughter, Judy Kersey; his parents, John and Elsie Kersey; siblings, Lloyd (Joyce) Kersey and Veva (Elden) Hansen; and in-laws, Elmer and Goldie Rhodes. Funeral services will be 10:30am Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at St. Brigid Catholic Church in Grand Junction, IA. Interment will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Grand Junction, IA. Friends may call at St. Brigid Catholic Church in Grand Junction after 3:30pm Monday. The family will greet friends at St. Brigid Catholic Church in Grand Junction from 5:00 – 7:00pm Monday, with a Prayer Service beginning at 7:00pm Monday. Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home of Jefferson, 515-386-2171