Gerald Wayne Taylor, Jr. Obituary (1950

Gerald Wayne "Junior" Taylor, Jr., 71, of Arlington, Iowa and formerly of Lamont and Maynard, passed away on Saturday morning, September 11, 2021, at his son's home with family by his side. Funeral Service: 1:00 P.M. Wednesday, September 15, 2021, at the Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home, Arlington, with Rev. Josh Hansen officiating. Visitation: 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday and for one hour before the service on Wednesday at the funeral home. Interment: Floral Hills Memorial Gardens, rural Oelwein, Iowa. Online obituary at www.jamisonschmitzfuneralhome.com Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, social distancing and masks are suggested at the visitation and service. Known to most as "Junior," he was born on May 14, 1950, in West Union, Iowa, the son of Gerald Wayne Taylor, Sr. and Nell Marie (Schroyer) Taylor. He grew up in the Maynard and Arlington area and graduated from Maynard High School in the class of 1969. Junior was united in marriage to Sharon Syverson on February 19, 1972, at Peace United Church of Christ in Elkader, Iowa. Together they had two sons: Kenny & Duane. Junior and Sharon later divorced but remained good friends. In recent years, he lived with his long term significant other, Vickie Lahey. Junior was passionate about farming, having farmed in the West Union and Arlington area for six years and then part-time with his family until 2013. He worked in the plant and drove straight truck at Purina Mills, north of Oelwein. Junior then took up driving semi coast to coast. When his sons were younger, Junior enjoyed camping with the family and attending the boys' sporting events. In order to expose his children to different types of travel, he drove them to Disneyworld in Florida, took them by train to New Mexico and flew with them to Disneyland in California. Junior enjoyed farming, tractor pulls and spending time with his grandchildren. He enjoyed the simple things in life, believed in having a good time, and always had a mischievous twinkle in his eyes that he passed on to his two sons. He was a member of the Arlington United Methodist Church. Gerald is survived by his 2 Sons: Kenneth (Angela) Taylor of Strawberry Point & Duane Taylor (Jeannie Daughton) of Arlington; 2 Grandchildren: Zachary & Randalyn; 3 Brothers: Leonard (Sandy) Taylor of Nampa, Idaho, Kim Taylor of Strawberry Point & Donald (Chris) Taylor of Winthrop; Sister: Dora Lee Shaffer of Dyersville; many Nieces & Nephews and Special Friend: Vickie Lahey of Lamont and her family. Gerald was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents and a sister in infancy: Dawn. A special thanks to St. Croix Hospice for their services and support.