Jerry Eugene Caughron, 87 of Cantril, Iowa, died at 11:30 AM Sunday January 9, 2022 at Addington Place of Ottumwa. Visitation with family will be from 2:00 to 4:00 P.M. Sunday, January 16, 2022, at Pedrick Funeral Home, Keosauqua, Iowa. Funeral service will be at 10:30 A.M. Monday, January 17, 2022, at Milton Christian Church in Milton, Iowa, with Kevin Mote officiating. Burial will be at Maple Grove Cemetery in Cantril. Any memorials can be made out to Vicki Duncan, with the funds distributed between St. Jude’s Hospital and Maple Grove Cemetery in Cantril and can be left at the funeral home, Milton Christian Church or mailed to the family at 109 North Van Buren, Milton, IA 52570.
Jerry was born on September 29, 1934 in Iowa City to Suell and Lucille Caughron. Jerry grew up in Waterloo and due to family issues, spent most of his childhood in an orphanage. Jerry married Patricia Ann Morrison on February 22, 1952 in Waterloo, she died August 17, 2008. Besides Jerry’s great love for the Lord and ministry through his life’s work as a pastor, in his 30’s he also had a secondary responsibility as Town Marshal in Macedonia, Iowa. The Caughron family moved numerous times driven by God’s calling. Towns that Jerry impacted included rural Lucas, Seymore, Macedonia, Douds, Henderson and finally to Cantril in 1978, where he was the pastor of the Cantril Christian Church until his retirement.
Jerry left school in 8th grade although he ultimately did receive his GED in Douds the same year his daughter Faith graduated from the 8th grade. Jerry loved music, his family and preaching God’s word to his churches. Jerry made two trips to Israel and one trip to Haiti in his life. He was Vice President of the Haiti’s Children’s Home and a former member of the Cantril Lions Club.
Left to cherish his memory are four daughters, Vicki (Stanley) Duncan of Milton, Faith (Pat) Trachsel of Bloomfield, Debra (Shawn) Shiley of Cedar Rapids and Jeri (Jeff) Crile of Fairfield, two brothers, Howard (Joyce) Caughron of Waterloo and Robert Caughron of Waterloo, 10 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, several nieces, nephews, extended family and many friends. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, John Caughron and a brother in infancy.