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Gerald Wayne Kephart
August 04, 2026
Funeral services for Gerald Wayne Kephart, 89, of Knoxville, will be held Thursday,
August 6, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Knoxville. Family
will receive friends prior to the service beginning at 10:00 a.m. Burial with military
honors will follow at Graceland Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at the funeral home
following the services for a continued time of visiting and fellowship.
Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church in Knoxville or to the Alzheimer's
Association.
Gerald was born on February 2, 1937, in Washington, Iowa, to Fred and Cecile
(Hopping) Kephart. One of seven children, he was raised alongside his siblings in
Washington and graduated from Washington High School in 1956. Shortly after
graduation, he enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving at bases throughout the
country.
Gerald married Ardis Sedlacek in 1958, and together they were blessed with five
children: Michelle, Jill, Michael, Pamela, and Kimberly. He worked as a mechanic and
drove a school bus before beginning his career with the Iowa State Patrol in 1965.
During his distinguished 25-year career, he received numerous awards and honors. He
was one of the State Patrol's pilots, affectionately known as a "Bear in the Air."
Throughout his service, Gerald flew governors, provided security for presidents and
even the Pope, met countless people, and devoted his career to protecting the safety of
others. He retired from the Iowa State Patrol in 1990.
Retirement did not slow Gerald down. He became a member of the Marion County
Sheriff's Reserve, served as an elder in his church, was a dedicated board member for
the local senior center, and was a member of the Old Fellows, continuing his lifelong
commitment to serving his community.
In 1981, Gerald married Judy DeLong, and together they shared 45 wonderful years.
They loved traveling, taking cruises and trips to destinations around the world, and
spending many winters in Texas. Gerald always treasured time with family and friends.
He especially looked forward to fishing trips to Canada, family reunions, and ice cream
socials, but nothing brought him greater happiness than spending time with his 18
grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
In his free time, Gerald loved attending auctions and sales, always on the lookout for
tools—or perhaps a go-kart for the grandkids. His garage was filled with just about
every hand tool imaginable, and there wasn't much he couldn't fix. Whether it was a car,
tractor, or a detailed woodworking project, Gerald took pride in working with his hands.
He also enjoyed maintaining a beautiful yard, tending a large garden for canning, and
caring for his fruit trees.
Gerald passed away on Saturday, August 1, 2026. He will be greatly missed by his wife,
Judy Kephart; his children: Michelle (Rick) Atterbury, Jill Merkle, Michael (Marsha)
Kephart, Pamela Fee, and Kimberly Baumgarten; Judy's children: Kevin (Kim) DeLong
and Brian (Brenna) DeLong; 18 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and many
nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Cecile Kephart; sons-in-law, Jack
Merkle and Mark Fee; and his siblings, Bernard Kephart, Raymond Kephart, Erma
Regenitter, Karen Nelson, and twin brothers, Leslie and Lester Kephart.
August 6, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Knoxville. Family
will receive friends prior to the service beginning at 10:00 a.m. Burial with military
honors will follow at Graceland Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at the funeral home
following the services for a continued time of visiting and fellowship.
Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church in Knoxville or to the Alzheimer's
Association.
Gerald was born on February 2, 1937, in Washington, Iowa, to Fred and Cecile
(Hopping) Kephart. One of seven children, he was raised alongside his siblings in
Washington and graduated from Washington High School in 1956. Shortly after
graduation, he enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving at bases throughout the
country.
Gerald married Ardis Sedlacek in 1958, and together they were blessed with five
children: Michelle, Jill, Michael, Pamela, and Kimberly. He worked as a mechanic and
drove a school bus before beginning his career with the Iowa State Patrol in 1965.
During his distinguished 25-year career, he received numerous awards and honors. He
was one of the State Patrol's pilots, affectionately known as a "Bear in the Air."
Throughout his service, Gerald flew governors, provided security for presidents and
even the Pope, met countless people, and devoted his career to protecting the safety of
others. He retired from the Iowa State Patrol in 1990.
Retirement did not slow Gerald down. He became a member of the Marion County
Sheriff's Reserve, served as an elder in his church, was a dedicated board member for
the local senior center, and was a member of the Old Fellows, continuing his lifelong
commitment to serving his community.
In 1981, Gerald married Judy DeLong, and together they shared 45 wonderful years.
They loved traveling, taking cruises and trips to destinations around the world, and
spending many winters in Texas. Gerald always treasured time with family and friends.
He especially looked forward to fishing trips to Canada, family reunions, and ice cream
socials, but nothing brought him greater happiness than spending time with his 18
grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
In his free time, Gerald loved attending auctions and sales, always on the lookout for
tools—or perhaps a go-kart for the grandkids. His garage was filled with just about
every hand tool imaginable, and there wasn't much he couldn't fix. Whether it was a car,
tractor, or a detailed woodworking project, Gerald took pride in working with his hands.
He also enjoyed maintaining a beautiful yard, tending a large garden for canning, and
caring for his fruit trees.
Gerald passed away on Saturday, August 1, 2026. He will be greatly missed by his wife,
Judy Kephart; his children: Michelle (Rick) Atterbury, Jill Merkle, Michael (Marsha)
Kephart, Pamela Fee, and Kimberly Baumgarten; Judy's children: Kevin (Kim) DeLong
and Brian (Brenna) DeLong; 18 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and many
nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Cecile Kephart; sons-in-law, Jack
Merkle and Mark Fee; and his siblings, Bernard Kephart, Raymond Kephart, Erma
Regenitter, Karen Nelson, and twin brothers, Leslie and Lester Kephart.