Jerald “Jelly” Wayne Rankin

Services for Jerald “Jelly” Wayne Rankin, 75, of Knoxville, will be held Friday, January
16, 2026, at 1 p.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Knoxville. Family will receive
friends prior to the service, beginning at 11 a.m. A luncheon will be held following the
service for a continued time of visiting.
Memorials in Jerald’s name may be made in care of the family and will be designated at
a later date to one of his many passions.
Jerald Wayne Rankin was born on February 17, 1950, in Knoxville, Iowa to Harold and
Myra (Valentine) Rankin.
Jerald was a man known for his quick wit, warm humor, and deep love for his family.
Always ready with a joke or a smile, he brought laughter into every room, while living his
life grounded in faith.
Jerald worked as a maintenance mechanic and body shop manager at Mathias Motors
and Hayes Bump Shop before beginning a long career at the 3M Tape Factory, where
he retired after 30 years of dedicated service. He also proudly served in the National
Guard and spent many years as a volunteer firefighter and EMT with the Knoxville
Township Fire Department and Knoxville Fire & Rescue, always answering the call to
serve others.
On June 14, 1980, he married the love of his life, Celeste, and together they shared 50
years of marriage. One of Jerald’s favorite jokes reflected his humor perfectly—both he
and Celeste had been married before, and their previous weddings had taken place on
the exact same day and year, September 12, 1970, just to the wrong people.
In his free time, he enjoyed playing cribbage with family and friends, hunting, fishing,
and talking about old cars and guns. He also cherished portraying Santa Claus for many
years, sharing joy through his long white beard and gentle spirit. His children and
grandchildren meant everything to him. Jerald was a skilled leather man and enjoyed
restoring saddles and horse tack. He even hand-crafted cribbage boards for his
grandchildren, as well as wallets and money clips for family, creating lasting keepsakes
so his love and his legacy would always be part of their lives.
Jerald passed away, Tuesday, January 13, 2026. He is now free of pain and the
prolonged respiratory problems that troubled him for 10 years. He will greatly missed by;
his wife of 50 years, Celeste Rankin; Jerald will be missed by all who knew him,
including his wife, Celeste; children and grandchildren: Michael (Candice) Van Niewaal:
Justyce, Jayda, Oakley and Teagan; Matthew (Amanda) Rankin: Macy and Emme;
Damian Rankin and Gabby Rankin; and a sister: Margaret Ball; along with many other
family and friends.
Preceding him in death are; His parents: Harold and Myra (Valentine) Rankin; Siblings:
Judy Brungardt, Shirley Cabrera, Martha Faye Nicholson, Roberta (Bobbi) Ford,
Carolyn Rankin, Darlene Palm and his brothers Chuck Rankin and Dean Rankin; and
his son: David W Rankin.