Jerome "Jerry" Lubbers

Retired long-time businessman, Jerome Joseph "Jerry" Lubbers died of cancer on Tuesday August 6, 2013 at home in Missoula, MT. On July 15, 1926 in Osmond NE, he was born the twelfth of fourteen children to John and Elisabeth Lubbers. After losing the family farm during the Great Depression, they moved to Yankton, SD. The generous Benedictine Sisters and his hard working mother kept the family fed while his father worked as a custodian.
Jerry learned the value of hard work at an early age. While still in school, he got up at 4 am to deliver newspapers and fresh bread from the local bakery. In his youth he also worked washing windows in a ladies' department store, at a local garage and occasionally chauffeured newlyweds around town in a motorized cart. He earned extra money brushing lint out of pockets for a cleaners and delivering the clothes.
Jerry and six of his siblings served their country during WWII. His mother would write letters using carbon paper to save time and her fingers. Jerry was a radioman aboard the USS Faribault in the Pacific. He earned the nickname "Signals" because he was the best at reading alternate communications when the ship had to be silent. Following his honorable discharge, he went to radio electronics school in Omaha, NE, and then returned to Yankton where he was the parts manager for Walsh Motors.
Always a sharp dresser, he caught the eye of his future bride while wearing a snazzy yellow tie at church. They met a short time later and soon he was giving her rides to work. On Jan. 2 1950, he married the love of his life, his "Irish sweetheart of Sunshine Hwy", Marge Courtney. They had to install indoor plumbing when they bought their first home and began a sideline of fixing up houses. They renovated or built over 16 homes during their "career".
In 1951, they bought the Townhouse Bakery and Café in Canton, SD. He once said this was the hardest job he ever had (he often worked 17 hrs/day) but the most satisfying. He loved baking. After seven years and picking up the pieces following a devastating fire, he sold the business and went to work as a salesman for John Morrell Meats. Whenever a transfer was proposed he would only consider moving if there was a Catholic School in the new location as a Catholic education for his children was important to him. All of his children graduated from Loyola Sacred Heart. In 1963, Morrell brought him to Missoula, a place they came to love. Jerry was a fashion trendsetter. He once said, "If I know I have a tough sell ahead of me, I will put on my favorite suit and feel up to the challenge." He was so good at his job that one of his clients said "He could sell snow to the Eskimos." In 1977, he and partners Bob Rowe and Warren Wilcox purchased the John R. Daily Co. Jerry was the VP of sales. The trio decided to limit production to bacon and developed the new concepts of honey cured and peppered bacon. Daily's thrived. He retired in 1988 and was soon busy volunteering at the White Elephant in Green Valley, AZ and the Senior Citizen Center in Missoula. Jerry's faith played a big role in his life. He served as lector and on the parish council at St. Francis Xavier parish.
Jerry and Marge were wonderful parents to their six children: John (Heather)-Missoula, Julie (Mike)-Missoula, Jeff (Lis)-Florence, Jeanne (Mark)-Missoula, Angela (Yo)-Bellevue WA, and Amy (Jon)-Idaho Falls ID.
Left to mourn the death of a loving and generous husband and father are his wife of 63 years, his children, 16 grandchildren, 5 step-grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren, his siblings: Ida Foxhoven –Yankton, SD, Martha Baker -Kansas City, KS and, Alfred (Millie) Kiowa, TX, sister-in-laws, Audrey-Yankton, SD, Donna-Yankton, Paddy-Sun Lakes, AZ, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, five sisters and five brothers, infant son, Jude, and infant granddaughter, Jill.
A rosary will be said at 7 pm, followed by a vigil service at Garden City Funeral Home at 7:30 Sunday Aug 11, 2013.
Mass of Resurrection will be at St. Francis Xavier Church Monday Aug12, at 10:30 a.m. A reception will immediately follow in Reidy Hall. Private inurnment will follow at a later time.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Francis Xavier Church Window Restoration Fund, 420 W Pine, Missoula MT 59801, The Poverello Center 535 Ryman St, Missoula MT 59802, or the Senior Citizen Center 705 S Higgins, Missoula, MT 59801.

Marge and the family would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to Dr. Pete Szekely and Dr. Sarah Scott for their excellent care and limitless compassion, and to Mary Jo and Monica, whose smiles and love brightened our days at St. Patrick Hospital cafeteria following tests, appointments and chemo. We would also like to thank the wonderful folks in Polson for their many kindnesses to Jerry and Marge, especially Pat Turner and their friends at Country Club Shores.

Condolences and memories may be left for the family at www.missoulafuneralhomes.com

Read Jerome Lubbers's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.