Gerald Eder

Gerald John Eder was born April 19, 1944 in Garden City, Kansas to parents George and Virginia Eder. When he was 2 years old, his parents moved him and his brother Lawrence to Arriba, Colorado, where they grew up on the family farm. Sisters Karen and Cynthia, and brother, David joined the family. Jerry went to school in Arriba and graduated from high school at St. Joseph’s Military Academy in Hays, Kansas. Jerry graduated from Barber College and was a Master Barber from 1963 to 1972 in Sterling, Colorado. Then he delivered barber supplies from Denver throughout Eastern Colorado. Jerry was a stock broker in Brush, Colorado and also sold Bio T, a cleaning product, and cell phones. He had a kind heart. One Christmas Eve, a mother and her little boy were window shopping; Jerry gave them money to buy a gift. Bums used to walk from the railroad park to his apartment a block away, and ask for a handout. Jerry would send them to a restaurant to eat, and then he’d pay the bill. Jerry always said, “When you can’t sleep, don’t count sheep – Talk to the Shepherd.” Jerry has two sons: Christopher Eder and his wife Pamela of Magnolia, Texas, and Justin Bradshaw of Arriba, Colorado; and a daughter Natalie and her husband David Byrd of Palestine, Texas. He is also the proud grandpa to Cole Eder and Allyson Byrd. Sterling, Colorado was his home for 35 years. Jerry met Dale Ann Amen and they became loving partners. Collecting clowns was the hobby they shared. Jerry’s family got “clown fever” and everybody was a collector, with Jerry himself the family clown! Jerry and Dale moved to Arriba 10 years ago. Jerry enjoyed spending time with those who stopped to visit at “Grampa Jerry’s Clown Museum”. Jerry battled several serious illnesses and surgeries over this past year, and following surgery this past week, infection overtook his body and he slipped peacefully away. Waiting to greet Jerry is his father, George Eder. He will be missed by his children and grandchildren, Dale Ann and her family, his mother Virginia Eder of Arriba, Colorado; brothers: Larry (Judy) of Inverness, Florida, and David of Stratton, Colorado; sisters: Karen (Doug Hanson) of Platteville, Colorado, and Cindy (Dan Pletcher) of Goodland, Kansas, as well as many nieces and nephews, and friends everywhere.