Jerald Leo Golmanavich

Jerald L. Golmanavich, 76, of Omaha, NE passed away October 11, 2024. Preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Anna (Sowakinas) Golmanavich and an infant brother, Leo. Jerry is survived by his wife, Elizabeth (Betty) (Soldan) Golmanavich, our cat, Smoochie, Jerry’s brother and sister-in-law, Joseph & Susan Golmanavich, twin nieces Lauren (Scott & Morgan) McIver and Jessica (Jeff & Matthew) Kahn.

Jerry was born in Newark, NJ on July 17th, 1948. He went to East Side High School in Newark and the Newark College of Engineering, now known as the New Jersey Institute of Technology. In 1969, Jerry was hired on by Western Electric in Baltimore, MD. On April 4, 1970, he married Elizabeth (Betty) Soldan. In 1983, Western Electric transferred Jerry’s job to their facility in Omaha, NE. Jerry and Betty moved into their house on July 2, 1983. Jerry continued to work there when it became A.T.&T., and then Lucent Technologies. He got his Master’s Degree from Purdue University on August 3, 1990 through a company program. Jerry wrote two chapters and edited the Plastic Technician’s Toolbox (a set of 7 books about plastics molding). Jerry also received two work related patents. He retired from Lucent Technologies on February 29, 2000. Jerry passed away on October 11th due to complications from prostate cancer.

Jerry belonged to many organizations such as the American Coaster Enthusiasts, the Automatic Musical Instrument Collectors Association, the German/American Society in Omaha, including the Baers Men’s Group, the River City Theatre Organ Society, the Nebraska Trailblazers, the Society of American Magicians, the Omaha Magical Society, the Knights of Columbus, Omaha Sister Cities Association and the Society of Plastics Engineers. He volunteered at the Omaha Community Playhouse, the Rose Theater, Salvation Army, and the Heartland Council of Pioneers, making Hug-a-Bears for the police and sheriff’s departments. He also headed up a program called Project Connect (educational computer games for students).

VISITATION: Monday, October 21, 2024 from 5-7 p.m. at Westlawn-Hillcrest Funeral Home, 5701 Center St followed by VIGIL SERVICE at 7 p.m. MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at 10 a.m. at St. Margaret Mary Church, 6116 Dodge St. INTERMENT FOLLOWING MASS at Westlawn-Hillcrest Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief