Jerry L Dinsdale

Jerry grew up in Loup City and St. Paul, Nebraska. He spent time on his grandparents’ farm learning about farm work and exploring the countryside with his brothers and sisters. He carried his love of agriculture with him throughout his life. Jerry always had a dedicated space in his yard for something that he either attempted to grow (like mangoes) or successfully grew like vegetables, fruits, peppers and herbs.

Jerry graduated from Loup City High School in 1959. In his high school years he was a member of the football team, played trumpet in the band, and excelled in everything Math and Science. After graduation he went on to the University of Nebraska where he earned a degree in Electrical Engineering. During his college years he was introduced to classical music, which became his favorite pastime. It was not uncommon for the walls of his house to reverberate to the sounds of Mozart, Bach and Wagner.

In 1977 Jerry met his wife, Valerie, and they were married April 8, 1978. They lived in the Seattle area until 2010. During that time, Jerry worked as a consulting engineer until he started his own engineering firm Dinsdale, Carlson and Vale (DC&V) where he worked until he retired in 2008. The majority of his career was spent designing electrical systems for Municipal Buildings, the University of Washington and Microsoft throughout the Pacific Northwest and Alaska.

Jerry was fascinated by the architectural structure of buildings throughout Europe. He and Valerie traveled extensively and instilled their love of adventure in their children. Closer to home, they enjoyed the wind in their faces as they sailed throughout Puget Sound and up to Canada. There were many exciting tales to be shared of sailing adventures including races, shore excursions to remote islands, crabbing in the San Juans, and listening to Jerry play his flute at night in the quiet bays where they harbored. Jerry also loved the beautiful Cascade Mountains where he bow and rifle hunted, hiked, and ate all the wild berries that he could find, much to Valerie's dismay.

In 2010, Jerry and Valerie set off for adventure in their fifth wheel motor home, leaving behind life long friends and family in Seattle. They traveled across the US for 2 years seeing and experiencing many amazing and wonderful parts of our beautiful country. They eventually settled in sunny Florida to be closer to their two sons and first grandchildren. In 2012, much to Jerry's delight, they bought a house in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. He loved the sunny days and warm weather where he could golf, play bocci ball, join a remote controlled sailboat club, an astronomy club, and work on his plants.

As an avid reader and life-long learner Jerry was happy to have in-depth discussions with you on any topic. He attended lectures for seniors at Florida Atlantic University and passed his time learning about different religions of the world, developments in software and electronics, politics of the day and just about anything else that interested him.

Jerry and Valerie built two houses together (literally) and had three wonderful children. He taught his children patience, kindness, and a sense of good moral character. He worked hard to attend their many school and extracurricular functions. As they became adults he was often asked how to do this or that and was always willing to lend a hand. It was important to him that he provide a stable and loving home for them as they were growing up and he was so very proud of the adults they became. He often talked about how fortunate he was that his children were successful and married such wonderful people. Jerry was blessed to be present for the birth of his six grandchildren. He showed them his quiet and gentle demeanor with patience and love.

Jerry was adored and loved by his family and respected by his friends. He will be deeply missed but he left a wonderful legacy.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Valerie, son Ryan Dinsdale (wife Stephanie), son Andrew Dinsdale (wife Colleen), daughter Meredith Enlow (husband Eric), brother Ron Dinsdale, sister in law Joanie Dinsdale and brother in law Barry Schmoker.

Jerry was preceded in death by his mother Ellen (Johnson) Dinsdale, father, Chester Dinsdale, brother, Billy Dinsdale, sister Nancy (Dinsdale) Schmoker, and sister, Sue Dinsdale.