Geraldine Evelyn Bealer

Geraldine E. Bealer, age 92, of Thomson, IL, passed away June 6, 2024 at the Alverno Senior Care Community, in Clinton, IA. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., on Saturday, June 22 at Law Jones Funeral Home, in Thomson. Visitation will take place from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., before the service. Burial will follow at Lower York Cemetery, in Thomson.

Gerry was born March 8, 1932 in Savanna, IL, the daughter of Lloyd and Marion (Holland) Smith. She spent her childhood years on a farm in Argo Fay, attending a one-room schoolhouse, before her family moved to Thomson. There, she graduated from York Community High School with the class of 1950.

On August 2, 1951, Gerry married David Lee Bealer. With David making a career of the United States Air Force, the young couple relocated often, over various deployments. With each stop on their life’s trail, Gerry would find work, ranging from seamstress work in a garment factory, to on-base clerical work.

Upon David’s retirement from the Air Force, he and Gerry moved back from Germany, settling in her family home, in Thomson. Gerry then put her sewing talents to professional use yet again, operating Gerry Bealer’s Upholstery business, out of her home, for 16 years.

Gerry and David contributed to their community early and often. They were members of York Baptist Church, where Gerry was always happy to volunteer her time and talents. Outside of the church, she also volunteered with the local food pantry and Meals on Wheels. She and David were also proudly active with the Thomson Chamber of Commerce, particularly helping to host the Bingo games at Buck’s Barn.

Aside from her loving demeanor and kind heart, Gerry will be remembered most for her artistic talents. She created beautiful paintings and would sew, knit, and crochet all sorts of garments and was renowned for the “Scrubbies” her family would look forward to receiving as stocking stuffers at Christmas. She restored old clocks brought home from Germany, which are still treasured by those lucky enough to receive one. Music is her first love, with piano, accordion, and clarinet being her specialties. As she grew older one of her past times was writing poetry, often about the observable world around her. She’d sit and look out her window, finding inspiration from the birds, falling leaves, and whatever life put in motion that day.

Gerry will be dearly missed by her three children, Kristy Sanborn, of Clinton, Vicky (Eric) Trager, of Clinton, and Kevin (Sheila) Bealer, of Harleyville, SC; six grandchildren, Jason (Rachel) Sanborn, Katie (Karl) Stroh, Jaclyn (Charles) Schantag, Nathaniel Trager, Heather (Michael Smyrski) Bealer, and Stephanie (Geoff) Marquardt; and nine great-grandchildren, Jackson, Hayden, Toraleigh, Gavin, Davis, Kennedy, Carter, Sophie, and Evelyn. Gerry is preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd and Marion; husband, David; siblings, Arlene (Calvin) Eslinger and Robert (Phyllis) Smith; and son-in-law, Steven Sanborn.