1944
Jerry
2020
Jerry Danbom
July 1, 1944 — November 5, 2020
A graveside service will be held for Jerry Danbom at the Milford Cemetery on Thursday, July 1, 2021 at 12:00 pm with Pastor Perry Aalgaard officiating. Following the graveside, friends and family are invited to a Celebration of Life with lunch being served at Gull Point Lodge at Gull Point State Park from 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Jerry, age 76, passed away suddenly at his home in West Okoboji on November 5, 2020.
He was born July 1, 1944 at the Spirit Lake Hospital to Lester and Orlyn Danbom of West Okoboji. Jerry went to school in Milford and being an entrepreneur started Danbom Dock Service at age 14, needing to hire 16-year-olds to drive them to the job sites. He was also a water ski instructor and fishing guide during his teen years. In 1965 Jerry met his wife of 55 years, Suzanne (Suzie) Rasmussen, of Council Bluffs, at the Roof Garden. To this union two children were born, Jon Alexander (Alex) and Lisa Marie (Waxela).
Always having a love for airplanes, Jerry bought his first plane in 1966 before he could fly. He ended up with all his ratings, teaching ground school in his kitchen and watching his students take their first solo flight from the Milford Airport, including the Mayor, Dorothy Frederick and the new attorney, David Stein Sr.
In 1967 Jerry bought his first barge which was made of wood. He rebuilt it and used it to install and remove boat hoists, which had been done by hand. Danbom’s Lakeside Engineering, Inc. came into existence. He designed and built two more hoist barges and built and redesigned three dock barges. During his career Jerry also developed and manufactured Danbom hoists and eventually docks which are now known as Blue Water Docks.
Winters were spent in Colorado skiing and trail riding on snowmobiles with family and friends. Racing was in his blood either boats or snowmobiles. His snowmobile racing team was very active in the later 70’s and 80’s. Jerry won his share of events and broke several records. Later he enjoyed deep sea fishing with his brother in Florida.
He loved animals, especially his little Tashi and Granddog Cosmo. You would see him walking the neighborhood with his two dogs. He also loved practical jokes and playing tricks on everyone.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife Suzie; daughter, Waxela Sananda and her children, Josiah Sananda and Gabriel Morris and Gabriel’s father, Brett Morris, all of Sarasota, FL; daughters, Jullie and Jeannette and their families of Grand Junction, CO, Denise and her family; brother Jim (Jan) Danbom, sisters, Cathie (Dean) Dodds and Polly (Tim) Bever of the Lakes Region; Aunt Rodella Vergamini; cousins, Bob (Linda) Vergamini and John (Claudia) Vergamini of Mesa, AZ; sister-in-law, Jane (Ron) Kornfeind of Sunrise Beach, MO; brother-in-law, Bruce (Joni) Rasmussen of Council Bluffs, IA; along with nieces, nephews and many friends.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Alex; Aunt Virginia (Jenny) Danbom; mother and father-in-law, Erven and Agnes Rasmussen; cousin, Doug Vergamini and Uncle Leo Vergamini.
Memorials in honor of Jerry can be given to the Humane Society of Northwest Iowa, 607 28th Street, Milford, IA 51351.
Jerry, age 76, passed away suddenly at his home in West Okoboji on November 5, 2020.
He was born July 1, 1944 at the Spirit Lake Hospital to Lester and Orlyn Danbom of West Okoboji. Jerry went to school in Milford and being an entrepreneur started Danbom Dock Service at age 14, needing to hire 16-year-olds to drive them to the job sites. He was also a water ski instructor and fishing guide during his teen years. In 1965 Jerry met his wife of 55 years, Suzanne (Suzie) Rasmussen, of Council Bluffs, at the Roof Garden. To this union two children were born, Jon Alexander (Alex) and Lisa Marie (Waxela).
Always having a love for airplanes, Jerry bought his first plane in 1966 before he could fly. He ended up with all his ratings, teaching ground school in his kitchen and watching his students take their first solo flight from the Milford Airport, including the Mayor, Dorothy Frederick and the new attorney, David Stein Sr.
In 1967 Jerry bought his first barge which was made of wood. He rebuilt it and used it to install and remove boat hoists, which had been done by hand. Danbom’s Lakeside Engineering, Inc. came into existence. He designed and built two more hoist barges and built and redesigned three dock barges. During his career Jerry also developed and manufactured Danbom hoists and eventually docks which are now known as Blue Water Docks.
Winters were spent in Colorado skiing and trail riding on snowmobiles with family and friends. Racing was in his blood either boats or snowmobiles. His snowmobile racing team was very active in the later 70’s and 80’s. Jerry won his share of events and broke several records. Later he enjoyed deep sea fishing with his brother in Florida.
He loved animals, especially his little Tashi and Granddog Cosmo. You would see him walking the neighborhood with his two dogs. He also loved practical jokes and playing tricks on everyone.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife Suzie; daughter, Waxela Sananda and her children, Josiah Sananda and Gabriel Morris and Gabriel’s father, Brett Morris, all of Sarasota, FL; daughters, Jullie and Jeannette and their families of Grand Junction, CO, Denise and her family; brother Jim (Jan) Danbom, sisters, Cathie (Dean) Dodds and Polly (Tim) Bever of the Lakes Region; Aunt Rodella Vergamini; cousins, Bob (Linda) Vergamini and John (Claudia) Vergamini of Mesa, AZ; sister-in-law, Jane (Ron) Kornfeind of Sunrise Beach, MO; brother-in-law, Bruce (Joni) Rasmussen of Council Bluffs, IA; along with nieces, nephews and many friends.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Alex; Aunt Virginia (Jenny) Danbom; mother and father-in-law, Erven and Agnes Rasmussen; cousin, Doug Vergamini and Uncle Leo Vergamini.
Memorials in honor of Jerry can be given to the Humane Society of Northwest Iowa, 607 28th Street, Milford, IA 51351.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Jerry Danbom, please visit our flower store.
Guestbook
Visits: 21
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors