Jerry was born on January 14, 1937 to Jerry and Mary (Halligan) Butters, their only child, in Denver, CO. Jerry attended Cole Junior High School and graduated from Manual High School in Denver, Class of 1954. He was awarded a scholarship to Denver University for two years and then transferred to Colorado State College in Greeley where he graduated with a degree in Mathematics and completed an ROTC program in preparation for what would become his career.
Jerry is survived by his devoted wife Jan (of 59 years), and three sons - Jeffrey Robert (Centennial, CO); John Kindel (Colorado Springs, CO); and Michael Edward (Littleton, CO), along with daughter-in-law Stacy (married to Michael) and grandchildren Sean and Rose. Jerry is also survived by a much-extended family from all over the country, and brother-in-law Edward and his family of Albuquerque, NM.
Upon graduation from college in 1959, Jerry was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force (USAF). His first assignment was at Strategic Air Command (SAC) near Omaha, NE. His career started as a computer programmer, and he was very involved in the critical identification of the Russian Missile installation in Cuba, in what was to become the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. In 1966 Jerry earned a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Michigan and went on to a four-year assignment at the Pentagon. During the Vietnam War from 1969-1970, Jerry served in Nakhon Phanom, Thailand, which is located across from the Laotian border. Jerry’s next assignments included four years in Stuttgart, Germany, and attendance at the United States Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, VA. For the next ten years, Jerry worked for SAC and the Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff (JSTPS) in Omaha. In 1981, Jerry was promoted to the rank at which he retired - Colonel. His final assignment brought him and his family to Colorado Springs in 1984, where he later retired in October 1987.
Jerry enjoyed and was quite talented at the sport of volleyball, making the USAFE (USAF European Command) team while stationed in Stuttgart, Germany. Jerry continued with volleyball throughout his life, and competed in the Senior Olympics in Tucson, Arizona.
Following retirement Jerry devoted his time and energy as Lay Director of the USAFA Cursillo. He also spent 15 years working for Academy School District 20 and the Calhan School District teaching mathematics and language arts to middle school students.
One of Jerry’s greatest lifelong enjoyments was music. He was never without a song on his lips, and entertained his family and friends as they gathered to enjoy his natural gift of both playing the baritone ukulele and singing. He was also talented in playing the trombone and the euphonium, and for several years he played the euphonium in the New Horizons Band of Colorado Springs.
For ten years Jerry and Jan annually spent the winter months in Sun City, Arizona where Jerry enjoyed his lifetime hobby of golf.
Jerry will be fondly remembered as a kindhearted, generous, warm man with great integrity, humility, and humor, always with a joke to share and an infectious laugh. He was never without cash in his pocket in case he encountered someone who he thought might need a helping hand. Jerry’s family and friends will miss him greatly.
Jerry’s family wishes to express sincere gratitude to the caregivers who offered comfort during Jerry’s last years at Bathesda Gardens and especially the compassionate attention shown to him from the Center Care Hospice.
A Rosary will be held at St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church at 5:15 pm on Friday, January 29th, followed by a prayer service at 6:00. A funeral service and military honors at the Pikes Peak National Cemetery will take place at a later date.
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