Emery "Jeff" Emerson Jr.

Emery "Jeff" Emerson, Jr., age 89, of Sioux City, Iowa formerly of Storm Lake, Iowa died Sunday, November 13, 2016 at St. Luke's Regional Medical Center in Sioux City. Funeral services will be held Friday, November 18, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake. Burial will follow in the Storm Lake Cemetery. Visitation will take place Thursday, November 17, 2016 from 5-7:00 p.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Storm Lake Education Foundation, PO Box 638, Storm Lake, Iowa 50588 or to Friends of the Storm Lake Public Library. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements. Emery Harold Emerson Jr., was born in South Dakota, the son of Florence and Emery H. Emerson, Sr. He was known as “Jr.” in his hometown of Bryant, South Dakota, where he graduated from high school in 1945. He joined the United States Army, where he got his nickname “Jeff”, as he served his country for a year at the end of World War II. After his military service Jeff returned to South Dakota and received both his Bachelor and Law degrees from the University of South Dakota. He began his career in Lake Preston, South Dakota in private practice. He then worked for Federated Mutual and later for United Fire and Casualty Company. In 1960, Jeff was united in marriage to Patricia Ann Ptak at St. Leo’s Catholic Church in Tyndall, South Dakota. Together, they moved to Storm Lake, where they were blessed with three children: Paula, Robert, and Eric. In Storm Lake, Jeff practiced law at Edson and Emerson until Wendell Edson’s retirement, after which he had a solo practice, Emerson Law Office. While practicing law, Jeff also served two terms as Buena Vista county attorney and then in 1973, he was appointed as a juvenile court judge for Buena Vista, Clay and Dickinson counties. Jeff was a long time member and past president of Hy-Noon Kiwanis, where he was very proud of his many years of perfect attendance. He was a 50 year member of the Iowa State Bar Association. Jeff enjoyed many camping vacations with his family and later by himself. He enjoyed wood working, golf and playing cribbage or bridge with good friends. In 2009, Jeff came to Sioux City where he was a resident of Bickford Cottage Assisted Living. Those left to cherish his memory include his children: Paula Emerson of Sioux City; Bob and Jodi Emerson and their daughters, Laura and Julia of LeMars, Iowa; Eric and Cindy Emerson and their son, Barret of West Friendship, Maryland; extended family and friends. Jeff was preceded in death by his wife, Pat, in 1990; and his brother, William.