Jerry R. McDonald
Jerry R. McDonald, age 83, of Holdrege, passed away on Monday, April 22, 2024, at his home surrounded by family. Celebration of life services will be held on June 22, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at J.B.’s Bar and Grill in Holdrege. Memorials in Jerry’s honor are kindly suggested to the Hoesch Public Library in Alma, or Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. Arrangements are under the care of Craig Funeral Home in Minden.
Tributes and memories can be shared with the family at www. craigfunerals.com.
Jerry Richard McDonald was born on September 18, 1940, in Imperial to Francis and Euella (Zimmerman) McDonald. He grew up in the Holdrege area and attended Holdrege Public School. Jerry entered the United States Army National Guard where he faithfully served from 1957 to 1962. Jerry served as a member of the volunteer fire departments in Cairo and Alma and was a certified EMT.
He was united in marriage to Shirley Adams on November 9, 1963, in Elm Creek and to this union, five children were born: Mike, Patrick, Cathy, Christy, and Tracey. Jerry owned/operated the grocery store in Cairo in the 1970s and the locker/processing plant in Alma throughout the 80s/90s. Following this, he worked as a meat cutter for a grocery store in Alma up until he and Shirley relocated to Holdrege.
He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, and boating, loved reading, and served on the library board in Alma. Jerry loved music and was best known as the bassist for the Mainstreet band, in which he played for 20 years.
Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Shirley McDonald, of Holdrege; sons, Mike McDonald, of Jerome, Idaho, and Patrick McDonald, of Mesa, Arizona; daughters, Cathy McDonald, of Omaha, Christy Patterson, of McCook, and Tracey Watson, of Scottsdale, Arizona; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; brothers, Jim McDonald and Joe McDonald; sisters, Joanne Sabol, Jean Smith and Julie Schwartz; as well as a host of extended relatives and close friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Francis and Euella McDonald, and sister, Mary Jean.