Samuel Sam Jerger

Samuel “Sam” Jerger, age 82, of Gering, died Friday, October 13, 2006, at Heritage Estates in Gering. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 A.M., Tuesday, October 17, 2006, at Zion Evangelical Church in Scottsbluff with Pastor Garry Schick officiating. Interment will be in the West Lawn Cemetery in Gering with military honors provided by the Nebraska National Guard. Friends may visit at Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel in Scottsbluff from 1:00 to 5:00 P.M on Sunday and 9:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. on Monday. Memorials have been established to the Zion Evangelical Church and to the Farm and Ranch Museum. Sam was born January 18, 1924, in Eaton, Colorado to Henry and Mary (Schmidt) Jerger Sr. In 1929, the family farmed in Mitchell Valley. In 1941, they farmed near Breckenridge, Minnesota. He entered the United States Marine Corps in March of 1945 and served as a military policeman in Tien Sein, China until he was honorably discharged in November of 1946. His family returned to the Gering Valley in 1946. On January 30, 1949, he married Elsie Schwindt of Scottsbluff. He farmed, and fed sheep, and then cattle in the Gering Valley with a passion until retirement in 1980. During retirement they enjoyed traveling and snow birding. At home his favorite hobby was woodworking and helping his kids, who will miss his wisdom, sense of humor, quick wit, guidance and patience. He was the true definition of a family man. He was a member of the Zion Evangelical Church, served on the Gering Valley School Board, was a 4-H leader, and was one of the Top Ten Sugar Beet Growers. Survivors include his wife Elsie; son, Tim (Colleen) Jerger of Scottsbluff; daughters, Cory (Don) Miller of Gering and June Jerger of Loveland, Colorado; grandchildren, Nicole Jerger of Fairhope, Alabama and Matthew Jerger of Gering; brothers, Reuben Jerger of Scottsbluff, Elmer (Dorothy) Jerger of Bayard and Paul (Phyllis) Jerger of Gering; and sisters, Mary (Emanuel) Lockman of Edgeley, North Dakota and Esther Schlotthauer of Scottsbluff. He was preceded in death by his parents; two infant brothers; brothers and sisters-in-law, Richard Jerger, Victor and Emma Jerger, Henry and Helen Jerger and Virginia Jerger; and brother-in-law, Edward Schlotthauer.