Dale Says

December 9, 2008

Jerry Fehringer

Filed under: Profile — Dale @ 2:43 pm

Jerome Fehringer passed away November 22, 2008 at Miller Memorial Nursing Home in Chappell, Nebraska.  Jerry was a long-time resident of Chappell and will be remembered by many for his community involvement and as the John Deere man.

Jerome A. Fehringer was born on September 2, 1919 to John and Clara Fehringer at their farm west of Peetz, Colorado, the second child of 13. He attended school in Peetz and Sidney and graduated from Peetz High School in May, l938.   After graduation, Jerry farmed at home with his father and worked at the John Deere store in Peetz.  December 7, 1941 changed a lot of people’s lives, including Jerry’s.  On Jan. l7, l942, he was sworn in to the U.S. Marine Corps in Denver.   After training in San Diego, Chicago, and North Carolina he was sent to the Pacific front where he was squadron leader of a unit that kept airplane engines running for fleets of U.S. bombers.  During the 14 months he was overseas Jerry served in Hawaii, New Hebrides Islands, Stirling Island, Munda, and Emerus Island. 

During a military leave in March of 1945 Jerry served as best man at the wedding of his former classmate, Bill Armstrong.  At the wedding he met the bridesmaid, Kathleen (Kay) Mohatt, who would later become his wife. 

Jerry was honorably discharged from the Marines in November 1945 and came home to Peetz.  He worked for local farmers and at the International Machinery Co. in Sterling and later for the John Deere dealership in Sidney.

Jerry and Kay were married in Sidney, Nebraska on September 23, 1948.   They lived in Sioux Villa in Sidney and were in their 3-room apartment when the “Blizzard of ‘49″ hit.  It lasted 3 days and nights and the only time they left their apartment was to get coal for the stove.

In the fall of 1949, the John Deere dealership in Chappell was put up for sale and Jerry met with the owner.  That same day, Dale Fenster also made overtures to buy the business.  Jerry and Dale wound up buying it together and ran it as partners for the next 26 years.  After the Chappell John Deere dealership closed in 1975, Jerry worked as parts manager at Reed-Merrill, Inc. of Julesburg, Colorado for l3 years. 

Jerry was a long-time member of the Lion’s Club and a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.  He was a member of Chappell’s Elementary School Board when the building was expanded, a member of the local Chamber of Commerce, and an active member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church where he was on the Church Board.

After their children had grown, Jerry and Kay enjoyed traveling and attended Marine Corp reunions, joined their siblings on cruises, took trips to Hawaii and Florida, and spent time with their children and grandchildren.  Jerry and Kay took square dance lessons in 1981, and joined the “Hicks ‘N Chicks” club from Ovid where they danced together for 21 years. 

Jerry and Kay were blessed with eight children:  Dan, Dale, Ray, Anne, Ralph, John, Joe, and Ed.  The whole family along with spouses and grandchildren often gets together for reunions, and Jerry treasured those times with his family. 

Jerry loved his family, his wife, Kay, the town he spent his adult life in, and his country.  He had many friends and his generous and gentle nature will be remembered by everyone who knew him. 

 

1 Comment »

  1. Dale,

    Sorry for your loss.

    Comment by Dan — December 31, 2008 @ 9:06 am

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