Gerald Vernon

Gerald (Jerry) Bruce Vernon, 82, of Elkhorn, NE, passed away on November 2, 2023. Jerry is survived by brother Douglas (Jane) Vernon, sons David (Nora) Vernon and Kent (Theresa) Vernon, and grandchildren Michael Vernon, Grant Vernon, Laurel Vernon, Hailey Vernon, Paige (Matt) Wickwire, Tiger Tuchel and Mattias Tuchel. He is preceded in death by his high school sweetheart and wife of 61 years JoEtta (JoEy) Vernon, son Douglas Vernon, and parents Wendell and Dorothy Vernon. Jerry was born in Flint, MI, on August 3, 1941. Jerry graduated from Jackson High School in Jackson, MI, and in 1962 married JoEy. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Kalamazoo College and master’s degree in business from University of Michigan. Jerry spent 18 years working in Human Resources for Pillsbury in Springfield, IL (where David was born), Hamilton, OH (where Douglas was born), Brooklyn Park, MN (where Kent was born), Grand Folks, ND, and Deephaven, MN. He moved on to Banquet Foods in St. Louis, MO, in 1983, and then to ConAgra in Omaha, NE, in 1985. Jerry was an active member of St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church in Elkhorn, NE. He served as their Finance Committee Chair, member of the Legacy Society Team, garden volunteer in the lawn mower brigade, and part of the Friday morning men’s bible study. Jerry especially enjoyed the Christian Outreach Program of Elkhorn (COPE) Tuesday bread run group (aka Dough Boys) and coffee club that followed with lively conversations that solved the world’s problems. Jerry was loyal and put everyone else first. He was humble, generous, compassionate, and never met a stranger. He will be greatly missed by his family and many, many friends. A double memorial service will be held for Jerry and JoEy at Saint Augustine, 285 S. 208th Street in Elkhorn, on Saturday, November 18 at 11am. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Augustine or the Christian Outreach Program of Elkhorn (COPE) food pantry.