Jerry was born in Huntington, UT on December 5, 1924, one of nine children. He spent his first 11 years there and then moved to Salt Lake City, where he first learned of bathtubs, toilets and telephones. He was a captain in the ROTC during High School and involved in Boy Scouts.
During World War II he volunteered for service in the Merchant Marines and served primarily in the Pacific, despite being exempted for the draft because of his acceptance into Medical School at the University of Utah. He then transferred and finished out his military service as a part of the Navy.
When he returned home he met Joyce Kelly at church, dated her for 3 months and then left again to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Northwestern States mission.
When he returned home again he married Joyce on March 17, 1949 in the Salt Lake City Temple. Plans for medicine changed and he opted to study economics so that he could complete his education sooner. During his schooling he worked with an actuary which influenced his career path in insurance. He searched for a position and found one in Lincoln, Nebraska where they moved with their 3 children and continued to grow their family. In Nebraska they had 3 more children and were heavily involved in the church and community there.
Jerry worked for Lincoln Liberty Life Insurance, which eventually became part of USLife. In 1984 he became CEO and President of a subsidiary he created and staffed, and moved to Grapevine, Texas. Shortly after moving, his wife Joyce was diagnosed with cancer and passed away.
His next door neighbor, Toni Bradford, had observed him working hard and attending church. She decided to ask him out and they were married just over a year later. She was still raising 3 teenagers at the time and he became an important part of a second family.
Healthy living was always important to Jerry. He worked hard and loved gardening. He was always reading up on the latest health innovations, stretching and doing yoga. He was able to maintain his home and garden until the last few years of his life. He was known for his kindness, was a great influence on many and will be greatly missed.
He is survived by his wife Toni, his sister Ruth Spjut, his children and their spouses, Craig Wakefield (Laura), Corinne Barney (Frank), Pam Bowman (Jerry), Nancy Wakefield, Barbara Denisoff, John Wakefield (Mona), and step-children Tracy Frederick (Chris), Greg Bradford (Andrea), Kim Herskowitz (Tom) . He leaves behind 20 grandchildren and 22 great grand-children who love him dearly.
Jerry’s quiet nature and dry wit brought many a smile. His advice to his posterity is as follows: Continue in Church activity, Gospel Study, Family Activities and Date Nights, Service to others, Good Citizenship, Excellence in your Professions... and then when you have done all of that, sit down and take a few deep breaths and relax, you have earned it.
To honor his wishes there will be no formal services.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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