Jerry Edward Ferguson

Jerry Edward Ferguson, Sr. was born August 2, 1936 in Little Rock, AR to Carl A. and Hazel E. (Roberts) Ferguson. Jerry’s parents divorced when he was about two years old. He grew up living with his mother in East St. Louis during the school year, and with his father in Indiana, Texas, and Arkansas during the summers. He graduated the 8th grade, May 1950 from Bunkum Road School, District 102 in Caseyville, IL, and graduated high school June 1954 from Township High School, Belleville, IL. Following high school, Jerry attended the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana for one year, and went on to graduate from Township Junior College in Belleville, IL with an Associate in Arts Diploma in June 1956. He then graduated from Washington University, St. Louis, MO, January 1959 with his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. While growing up, Jerry took an early interest in electronics, even building his own short-wave radio so he could listen to the Grand Ole Opry from Nashville, TN. He was also active as a member of DeMolay International. Jerry married Melba Jean Creech on February 14, 1959 at the Compton Heights Baptist Church in St. Louis, MO and to this union two children were born: Jerry Edward, Jr. and Janelle (aka Jen) Ferguson. Jerry worked for IBM in Woodstock, NY after college, but left for Naval Officer’s Candidate School in Newport, RI in 1962 after being in the Naval Reserves for eight years. While in the Navy, Jerry completed Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA June 1969, receiving his Master of Science in Computer Systems Management. He worked as part of the Naval Security Group for 20 years being stationed at Ft. Meade, MD, San Diego, CA, Monterey, CA, Guam, Mariana Islands, Misawa, Japan, and Washington D.C. Jerry earned the Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy Unit Commendation, Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. He served his country until his retirement and honorable discharge in March 1982 holding the rank of Lt. Commander. Jerry married JoAn Dvorak Potterton on May 30, 1987 at Lewinsville Presbyterian Church in McLean, VA. The couple moved to Elkhorn, NE in 2000. Jerry was a 50 year member of the Masonic Lodge #0712 of Collinsville, IL, and was an ordained elder in the Presbyterian Church. He loved Jazz music of all kinds, but was particularly fond of New Orleans Jazz. He enjoyed a rum and Coke with a good twist of lime, or a good cup of coffee. He still tinkered with electronics and computers, rebuilt old clocks, built computer systems, and set up music systems. Jerry was fond of saying, “Assume anything you want. It doesn’t make it so.” Or, while trying to make someone do something they clearly didn’t want to, “It’s like trying to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig”. Jerry died on his 78th birthday surrounded by family at his home in Elkhorn, NE on August 2, 2014. He was preceded in death by his parents Hazel and Carl Ferguson; and first wife M. Jean Creech Ferguson. Jerry is survived by his wife JoAn Dvorak Ferguson; son Jerry E. Ferguson Jr. (Kathryn), daughter Jen Ferguson; grandchildren Sara and Adam Nice; sister-in-law Jean Fritsch and Tom Slizinski; nephew Gordon Fritsch (Janice); grandnephews Nick (Amanda), Hunter, and Grant Fritsch. JERRY E. FERGUSON Sr. 8/2/36 – 8/2/14 Elkhorn, NE. US Navy Retired Preceded in death by parents Hazel E. Roberts and Carl A. Ferguson; first wife Melba Jean Creech Ferguson. Survived by wife JoAn Dvorak Ferguson; son Jerry E. Ferguson Jr. (Kathryn) of Vienna, VA; daughter Jen Ferguson and grandchildren Sara and Adam Nice of Sterling, VA ; sister-in-law Jean Fritsch and Tom Slizinski of Bennington, NE; nephew Gordon Fritsch (Janice) and grandnephews Hunter and Grant of Elkhorn, NE; and grandnephew Nick Fritsch (Amanda) of Lincoln, NE. Memorial Service: Peace Presbyterian Church, 333 South 204th Street, Elkhorn, NE, 68022, Saturday August 9th 11:00 AM with military honors by the Valley American Legion Post #20. Masonic Rites will be held Friday August 8th 7:00 PM at the Waterloo Lodge #102, 20295 Hopper St. in Elkhorn. The public is invited. Private inurnment. In lieu of flowers suggest memorials to the church.

Jerry Edward Ferguson

August 2, 1936 - August 2, 2014