Jerald ‘Jerry’ Kornele was born July 30, 1945 to Robert‘Cowboy’ Kornele and Helen Kornele-Brown in Freedom, Oklahoma. He later grew up with his grandparents, the Kornele’s and Ferguson’s, in Freedom, OK. before graduating high school in Kansas while working with his father on the construction of grain elevators.
After high school Jerry enlisted in the Navy where he served as an electrician on the USS Ranger Aircraft Carrier.
Following a four year career in the Navy, Jerry had a stint as a dj spinning country music records on 100.5 FM in OKC. Jerry would go on to obtain his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Oklahoma State University, earning a 3.9 gpa. At the age of 50 Jerry graduated from Oklahoma City University with a 4.0 gpa and his MBA. Shortly there after, Jerry completed course work and graduated from Air Command and College.
Jerry worked as Electrical Engineer for the United States Air Force, at Tinker Air Force Base in Midwest City, OK. At the time of Jerry’s retirement, the base general estimated that Jerry was the lead and/or worked on over $1 billion worth of projects during his tenure on base.
Jerry was a model of reliability and consistency, a long time resident of Choctaw, OK, he lived in the same house since 1981 and was a long time member of the Choctaw Church of Christ where he attended regularly.
Jerry is survived by his ex-wife Shara Braswell-Kornele, their son Damon and his spouse Monica, two grandchildren Miles Andrew and Eve Soleil, his brother Bob, two sisters Susie and Shirley. Preceding Jerry in death are his parents Robert and Helen and his sister Yveeta.
