Gerald Earl “Jerry” Whitney died Nov. 7, 2023, at the Greene Senior Living in Seward at the age of 85.
He was born Nov. 21, 1937, to Earl and Mable Mitchell Whitney in Belleville, Kansas. He was the youngest of three children. Jerry attended Belleville Elementary until the sixth grade when the family moved to Creston, Iowa. The family returned to Belleville in 1954 and Jerry graduated from Belleville High School in 1955.
In 1957, Jerry enlisted in the Air Force. He was honorably discharged in 1961 and remained as an inactive member of the Air Force reserves until 1963. In 1958, Jerry married Marlene Rott, at the United Methodist Church in Clyde, Kansas. They have two sons, Michael, and David.
Jerry began his lifelong career as a heavy-duty truck maintenance supervisor at Peake Transport in Chester. In 1975, the family moved to Milford, where he was employed by Lewis Service of Lincoln and later Rose Equipment Co. until his retirement in 2003. Jerry was gifted with the ability to create and fix many things. He had an avid interest in history and researching his family ancestry. He enjoyed competitive trap shooting and hunting in his early years. Later it was golf, wood carving and painting.
Jerry’s greatest joy was his family, telling stories, attending many activities of his children and grandchildren. His family remembers him for his kindness, honesty, sense of humor and always being there for us.
Jerry is survived by his wife of 65 years, Marlene; sons, Michael (Pat) Whitney, Minden, and David (Marcy) Whitney, Sun City, Arizona; grandchildren, Eric (Kelli) Whitney of Milford, Logan Whitney of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Dani (Kane) Ramsey or Kearney, Jon (Alicia) Whitney of Kearney, and Alex Whitney of Omaha; six great-grandchildren; sister, Barbara Stevens of Kiowa, Kansas; and sister-in-law, Leatrice Rott of Wichita, Kansas.
Preceding Jerry in death are his parents; grandson, Dustin Whitney; sister and brother-in-law, Pat and Reg Yates; and brothers-in-law, Larry Stevens and Marvin Rott.
A graveside service/inurnment will be Wednesday, Nov. 15, at 10:15 a.m. at the Blue Mound Cemetery near Milford. A Celebration of Life service will be Wednesday, Nov. 15, starting at 11 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Milford. Memorial contributions are suggested to the United Methodist Church in Milford, or to the Milford Fire and Rescue. Arrangements by Lauber Funeral and Cremation Services.
