Gerald J. "Jerry" Lukes

A Memorial Mass for Jerry will be held on Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Geneva, Nebraska with Father Harlan Waskowiak presiding. Praying of the Rosary will be held prior to the Memorial Mass on Tuesday, January 3, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Geneva, Nebraska. A Book Signing will be held on Monday, January 2, 2023 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with family present from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Farmer & Son Funeral Home in Geneva, Nebraska. Burial of Ashes will be held at a later date in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Geneva, Nebraska. Memorials are to be directed to the family to be designated at a later date. Gerald Joseph “Jerry” Lukes was born to Arnold Joseph Lukes and Eloise Theresa (Kerber) Lukes on March 26, 1949 at Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and passed away December 28, 2022, at his home in Geneva, Nebraska at the age of 73 years. He was one of 6 children in the family. He was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and went to school there until his family moved to Fairmont, Nebraska when he was 12 or 13 years old. He lived in Fairmont until the age of 19. Jerry attended Fairmont Public High School completing his 11th grade year. On completion of his 11th grade year, he entered in the United States Navy in 1968. He met the girl of his dreams that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with and married Deloris Reinsch in February of 1969. Jerry served our country where he was stationed in Japan and Vietnam in 1969. He received an Honorable Discharge in April of 1970. When returning home Jerry and Deloris rented a home for a couple of years before buying their first home in 1972, which they were still living in at the time of his passing. He started his working career at the Safeway Grocery Store in Geneva as a Produce Manager, learning to cut meat in the meat department and worked his way up to be Assistant Manager of the store before he left after 9 years to begin working at the Fillmore County Roads Department in 1980. Jerry worked for the Fillmore County Roads Department from 1980 until he retired at the age of 65 years. From a young age and until the time of his death, he enjoyed fishing and hunting. During retirement he enjoyed the trips to Harlan County Lake to fish and trips to Missouri to see family. To complete his high school education Jerry took courses through the University of Nebraska in Lincoln in Arts and received his GED in 1973. Gerald was married to Deloris Reinsch of Geneva, Nebraska on February 4, 1969, and to them 2 children were born, Amy and Andrew. He was a longtime member of the Geneva VFW being a member from 1970 until his passing in 2022. Jerry was also a member of the National Rifleman Association. Some of his favorite hobbies included hunting and fishing. He loved going hunting or fishing with anyone that wanted to join and if it was their first time catching a fish or shooting their first deer the excitement on their face gave him great joy. Drawing was another hobby that he enjoyed doing when time allowed. Jerry thoroughly enjoyed his time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Jerry was preceded in death by his mother and father, Arnold and Eloise Lukes; sister and brother-in-law, Karen (Lukes) Teeslink and George Teeslink; niece, LeAnn (Teeslink) Shown; great nephew, Jeral Shown and father and mother-in-law, Clarence and Bernice Reinsch. He is survived by his wife, Deloris of Geneva, Nebraska; daughter, Amy (Tony) Wilson; their son and his wife, Jaron (Victoria) Wiseman and their children, Ariyana, Mila and Harlyn; daughters, Rayna and Mavis Wilson, all of Bolivar, Missouri; son, Andrew (Crystal) Lukes and their children, Vanessa, Hunter and Carly of Geneva, Nebraska; brother, Larry (Kathleen) Lukes of Saronville, Nebraska; sister, Susie (Frank) Adams of Saronville, Nebraska; brother, Terry (Debra) Lukes of Humansville, Missouri and sister, Renae (Lukes) Wingen of Oklahoma.

Tributes

Gerald J. "Jerry" Lukes

March 26, 1949 - December 28, 2022