ABOUT JERRY'S SANITATION
oUR STORY
Jerry's Sanitation's origin story begins with its namesake, Jerald Bailey. Jerry and his two younger sisters were raised by their mother, a teacher, and their father, a banker, in Zearing, Iowa. After graduating from Zearing High School in 1956, Jerry joined the US Navy where he served for four years. It was when he returned to his hometown that he began what would end up being an extensive 63-year career in the auto body industry. Forty-three of those years were as the owner of Jerry's Body Shop in Zearing.
In 1993, after the industry began to decline, Jerry decided to add on a new business venture and purchased a small sanitation company that had been established by his friend and neighbor, Earl Gray. This was the founding of Jerry’s Sanitation. Starting out with a 1975 C65 Chevy that had a Garwood packer body, Jerry’s Sanitation had a modest customer base that included the town of Zearing and a few rural customers. When he wasn't on the garbage route, he continued to do auto body work. As time went on, the sanitation business saw increased success, and by 2015 the decision was made to close the body shop for good.
Fast forward to today and Jerry’s Sanitation,
now owned and operated by Jerry’s youngest son, Devin Bailey, has a customer base that expands from Story County into Hardin and Marshall counties as well. Founded on small-town principles and the value of a handshake, Jerry’s Sanitation has thrived as a small business over the years due to good old-fashioned hard work and the practice of keeping their customers a top priority.
Jerry is currently enjoying his retirement by spending time with his four grandchildren, tinkering on his '65 Ford Galaxy, and occasionally riding shotgun with Devin in one of the trucks. If you see him in the passenger seat, be sure to give him a wave!
