Gerald P. Erpelding, 85 of Sioux City, formerly of West Des Moines, died Friday, January 16, 2026 at Unity-Point St. Lukes, Downtown.

Memorial Services will be held 10:30 am Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Moville, with Rev. Michael Erpelding officiating. Visitation 1 hour prior to service time. Burial will be in St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery, Whittemore, Iowa.

Gerald Peter Erpelding was born on July 30, 1940 in Algona, Iowa the son of John and Amanda (Ernst) Erpelding. Gerald graduated in 1959 from the Presentation Academy in Whittemore.

Gerald was united in marriage to Helen Marie O'Donnell on April 15, 1961 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Bancroft, Iowa. Gerald farmed near Whittmore and was a school bus driver. In the early 1990's they moved to West Des Moines where Gerald was a forklift operator at Merchant's Warehouse, retiring in 2010. Gerald enjoyed reading the newspapers and traveling to antique tractor shows.

Gerald was a member of the St. Boniface Catholic Church in Waukee. In December of 2025, after Helen passed the previous November, Gerald moved to Sioux City, residing at the Holy Spirit Worship Community.

Gerald is survived by his sons, Rev. Michael Erpelding and Brian Erpelding, his daughter Joyce (Wendell) Adamson, three grandchildren, Shana Hedges, Austin Adamson and Ross Adamson, and one great-grandchild, Declan Hedges.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Helen of 64 years, two brothers, Francis Erpelding and Harold Erpelding and three sisters, Angela Frideres, Anna Mae Tigges and Marguerite Brcka.