HARTINGTON — Gerald K.

"Jerry" Hoart, 81, Hartington, died Dec. 28, 2025, at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton, S.D., surrounded by his family.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Jan. 6, at 10:30 a.m., at Holy Trin ity Catholic Church, Hartington, with the Rev. Kevin Vogel ociat ing.

Burial will be at St. Michael’s Cemetery, Hartington.

Pallbearers will be Bennett Steffen, Sydney Schmaderer, Maxwell Steen, Jacob Steen, Bob Schma derer, Tera Kastrup, Thom Kastrup and John Hoart.

Visitation will be Monday, at church, from 5-7 p.m., with a Vigil Service at 7 p.m. Visitation will

continue Tuesday, at church, one hour prior to services.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home, Hartington.

Gerald Kenneth was born Oct. 27, 1944, to Harold and Marcella (Bruening) Hoart in Hartington. He grew up in Coleridge and grad -

uated from Coleridge High School in 1962. He attended Northeast Community College before starting a lifelong career in the dairy in- dustry. At the age of 19, he started working for John Neu at the Har tington Dairy and Jim Neu at the Neu Cheese Co., which eventually became Mid-Am then DFA. He retired after 42 years in 2005. Jerry married Jean Lynn Riibe Jan. 16, 1965, in Hartington. They built their home in 1968, raised their four children there, and contin ued living there until their passing.

Jerry was a faithful Cubs fan, an avid golfer and a devoted Catholic who attended daily Mass for many years as long as his work schedule allowed and prayed a daily rosary always. He was a member of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, and the Knights of Columbus. Jerry and Jean were coordinators of the Cedar County Lifeline for decades. For years, prior to his recent blood disease diagnosis, he donated a total of 16 gallons of blood through LifeServe. Jerry was a generous provider and a family-man above all things.

Jerry is survived by three children, Kent and Therese Hoart, Jill Hoart, and Jayne and Steve Steen, all of Hartington; son-in-law, Greg and Kim Johnson, Verdigre; grandchildren, Bennett and Brooke Steen, Norfolk; Sydney and Robert Schmaderer, West Point; Max - well Steen, Lincoln; Jacob Steen, Norfolk; great-grandchildren, Nora Steen and Nash Steen, Norfolk; his sister, Ruth Ann and Henry Kusel, Riverton, Wyo.; brother, Randy Hoart and Rebecca Sutherland, Hartington/Rockport, Texas; sister-in-law, Joann Hof - fart, Coleridge; brother-in-law, Jerry and Jody Riibe, Mesa, Ariz.; niece, Tera Kastrup, Hartington; and many nieces and nephews.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; and his wife, Jean, 2022; a daughter, Kristen Johnson, 2013; a brother. Larry Hoart; a brother and sister-in-law, Galen and Leslie Hoart; in-laws, Alphonse and Julia Riibe; a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Julie and Robert Kastrup.