Gerald Dean Delong

Gerald Dean DeLong, 84, of Rocky Ford passed away on February 10, 2017 at the Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center in La Junta. He was born on Mother's Day, May 8, 1932 to Charles G. & Selma (Hannebaum) DeLong on the farm his grandparents, Clinton and Belle DeLong, homesteaded in 1890.

Gerald attended the Patterson Valley country school thru 5th grade, then went to Rocky Ford Washington school for 6th grade, and to Rocky Ford High School for 7th thru 12th grades.

He grew up on the farm working alongside his dad and other family members. He began farming 80 acres of the home farm as a Future Farmers of America Project when he was 18 years old. Gerald was very active in FFA and received the State Farmer award in 1949. That same year, he went by train to receive his award at the National FFA Convention in Kansas City, Missouri. He was a state officer when he was a senior in high school.

During his school years, Gerald played football and basketball, going to the state basketball tournament in Denver his Jr. and Sr. years.

After high school Gerald continued farming and on June 3, 1951 he married his high school sweetheart Iris Hamilton. They had four children Debra, David, Denise and Dennis.
Gerald and Iris purchased their farm in 1957. It was just one mile from where he grew up. Along with raising crops, he raised cattle, hogs and sheep. He also worked as a mechanic for American Crystal Sugar for 27 years during the winter campaign. Gerald spent his entire life farming and providing for his family until his health declined forcing him to make the difficult decision to give up farming at the age of 80.

Gerald had been on the board for the West Otero/Timpas Soil Conservation District for over 61 years and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012 at the convention in Aspen, Colorado.

In 1992, after 41 years of marriage, Iris passed away.

He met and married Shirley Erickson on August 28, 1999.

Gerald always enjoyed music and really enjoyed listening to Jerry Clower records while working at night on the farm changing water and baling alfalfa.

Gerald is survived by his wife, Shirley DeLong of Pioneer Health Care Center; children, Debra (Ray) Turner of Delta, CO; David (Pat) DeLong of Rocky Ford, CO; Denise (Richard Keck) DeLong of Manzanola, CO; Dennis (Janice) DeLong of Pueblo West, CO; sister, Dorothy Muth of La Junta, CO; sister-in-law, Maxine DeLong of Craig, CO; grandchildren, Mandi DeLong of Thornton, CO; Amber (Joe) Kucera of Firestone, CO; Nikki (Cameron) Lally of Douglas, WY; Ryan (Abril) DeLong of Thornton, CO; Ashley (Gary) Cutrell of Swink, CO; Josh (Bonnie) Turner of Roundup, MT; Justin Turner of Laramie, WY; Misty (Brian Keener) DeLong of Colorado Springs, CO; and Cassie (Tim) Hartbauer of Pueblo, CO; ten great-grandchildren and one great, great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Iris Hamilton-DeLong; brothers, Charles, Jr. and Richard DeLong; brother-in-law, Alfred Muth; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Wayne, Sr. and Edith Hamilton; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Wayne, Jr. and Iona Hamilton, as well as members of his extended family.

Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, February 15, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Rocky Ford with Pastor John Dell of the First Christian Church officiating. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 14, 2017 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Peacock Memorial Chapel.

Those wishing to do so may make memorial contributions to the Rocky Ford High School FFA Chapter, 100 W. Washington Avenue, Rocky Ford, CO 81067 or the Alzheimer's Assoc. Rocky Mtn. Chapter, do Keith Swanson, 455 Sherman Street, Denver, CO 80203 direct or through the funeral home.

Online condolences may be made at www.PeacockFH.com. Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home & Arkansas Valley Crematory is in charge of arrangements