Jerald Noel Smith

Jerald Noel Smith, 89, Cedar Falls, died Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at his home under the care of Cedar Valley Home Hospice.

Jerry was born December 19, 1935 in Marshalltown to the late Dale C. and Hazel I. (Sawyer) Smith. While Jerry was an outstanding senior football and basketball player at Grundy Center High School in 1954, he met Carol Heckroth, a Junior and cheerleader at Teachers College High School. They started dating and soon fell in love. Although apart, Carol and Jerry remained together during her year away and were engaged shortly after her return. On September 6, 1956, Carol and Jerry married in Cedar Falls. They spent the next 69 years happily married together and were blessed with three children, Trent, Mark and Jason. Jerry sadly said goodbye to his beloved Carol on November 4, 2025.

Jerry started his career working as a teacher and coach in Illinois after graduation from Iowa State Teachers College in 1959. In the mid 1960’s, he left teaching to pursue his love of music and went on to sing in clubs across the United States. Jerry returned to Cedar Falls in 1970 to manage the Yardarm and later the Waterloo Elks Lodge, Davenport Elks Lodge and the Beaver Hills Country Club before briefly retiring. He then opened the Port of Call before running the Valhalla in Clairmont with his son, Jason, for a few years before retiring a second time. Jerry then returned to working part-time selling cars for John Deery and Rydell and then finally retiring for good, settling into a life of being a snowbird with Carol traveling to Arizona in the winters.

Jerry was affectionately known as the “Big Guy” by his boys and will be remembered as a loving father who was committed to Carol and his family. Carol nourished his free spirit and he worked very hard to provide a good life for his family.

Jerry is survived by his children, Trent J. Smith of San Diego, CA, Mark N. Smith of Cedar Falls and Jason Smith of Cedar Falls; grandchildren, Joshua G. (Jesse) Smith of Waterloo and Lindsie M. Smith of Cedar Falls; great-grandchildren, Adriana, Charlee and Corbin Smith of Waterloo and Kylie Jo Thomas of Cedar Falls; brothers, Merle Smith of Minneapolis, MN and Robert D. (Becky) Smith of La Porte; extended family and friends.

The Celebration of Life for Jerry and Carol will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, May 1, 2026 at Dahl-VanHove-Schoof Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 9:30 AM until the time of service at the funeral home on Friday. Jerry and Carol will be inurned together at Rose Hill Cemetery, Grundy Cemetery, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family for a future charitable donation. Please visit www.dahlfuneralhome.com to share condolences with the family.