Jerry Dwayne Stevens, 85, of North Platte, passed away peacefully on Aug. 21, 2012, at Delmar Gardens in Overland Park, Kansas.
He was born on May 2, 1927, in Omaha, the fifth of six children to Clinton and Vena (Drake) Stevens; he spent most of his adult life in North Platte. He was a 1944 graduate of Kearney High School, an alumnus of North Platte Community College, and received extensive professional training as a Certified Hearing Aid Audiologist.
In North Platte, Jerry co-owned S&F Sheet Metal, served as a department manager for Montgomery Wards, and for nearly 40 years served central and western Nebraska in the hearing aid industry, owning and operating Stevens Hearing Aid Center.
Jerry, at the age of 22, had a life-transforming encounter with Jesus Christ, which profoundly changed the rest of his life. He was not rich, famous, powerful, or mighty, but he was a man of character and integrity. He held his views strongly and freely expressed them. He persistently sought to model and live a life of faith and obedience to the God he served. For more than 60 years he was a faithful member of the North Platte Church of the Nazarene and was vitally involved in its mission and ministries. He was eager to share his faith in Jesus and often prayed with those in need physically, emotionally and/or spiritually.
He married his best friend, Loralee Hisel, and established their Christian home on May 26, 1949, into which seven sensational Stevens siblings were born over the next 17 years.
Jerry’s love for the Lord was wonderfully expressed through music. His singing and guitar playing filled his home and life. In his youth he played guitar in the family band, a skill that kept him gainfully occupied while serving in the U.S. Army. He encouraged all his children and grandchildren to sing and play music on a wide variety of instruments. Members of his family now sing and play piano, organ, violin, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, guitar, flute, clarinet, and drums – all significantly influenced by Jerry. Singing with the Barber Shoppers, and playing in various musical groups kept him busy in his prime time years – to the delight and blessing of the listeners in many different venues throughout North Platte and the surrounding area.
Jerry delighted in his life’s companion, of 63 years, Loralee, and their seven children and their families, LaDonna (Don) Studley, of LeMars, Iowa, and their children; Laurie, LaNell and Evan and their 11 children; Woodie (Cheryl), of Lenexa, Kan., and their children; Michelle and Geoffrey and their six children; Dan (Christy), of McCook, and their children; Jesse and Amy and their four children; LaVonne (Dennie) Blevins, of Woodland Park, Colo., and their children, Traci, Stephen and Michael and their eight children; Valerie (Dusty) Rhodes, of Overland Park, Kan., and their children; Stacy and Raeann, Jeffrey (Lesilee), of Olathe, Kan., and their children, Tanner and Trever; and Melodie (Steve) Terrill, of Olathe, Kan., and their daughter, Julie.
Jerry is survived by his wife, Loralee, of Overland Park, Kan.; his sister, Rosemary Shafer, of Kearney; his seven children; 15 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and 14 nieces and nephews. These are those who called him, husband, brother, Dad, Uncle Jerry, Grandpa Jerry and Great-Grandpa Jerry. They are blessed because “a just man walks in his integrity and his children are blessed after him.” (Proverbs 20:7).
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Clinton and Vena Stevens; parents-in-law, Woodie and Agnes Hisel; brothers, Troy, Jack and his wife, Alda, Billy Edward, and Myles and his wife, Colleen; brothers-in-law, Conley Hisel and his wife Ruth, Elton Hisel, Claude Livingston and his wife, Twila, and Lyle Shafer; one nephew, Craig Livingston; two nieces, Barbara Hisel and Cindy Livingston; and his first great-granddaughter, Ann Lydia Kumm.
Memorials are suggested to the Gideons or to the Nazarene Compassionate Ministries. Online condolences may be shared at adamsswanson.com.
Services will be at 10 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 24, at the Parkview Church of the Nazarene with the Rev. Jack Atteberry officiating. Burial will be at the North Platte Cemetery will full military honors graveside.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home and from 5-7 p.m. with the family receiving friends at the church.
Adams & Swanson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.