Jerry Green

GREEN, James D. "Jerry" 7/31/1931 – 11/11/2020 Age 89 formerly of Omaha, NE, presently of Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Proudly served his country in the United States Air Force, Korean war. Preceded in death by parents, Doris and James E. (Jim) Green, brother Robert (Bobby) Green. Survived by daughter, Cynthia L. England (Dan); sons, Rick J. Green & Randelle W. Green(Gabriela); grandchildren, Shayla Reichert (Dominick), Chase Savage, Dakota Green; great-grandchildren, Braedan and Brielle Reichert. Cynthia can be reached at 720.234.7040, or Cynthia@EnglandConsultants.com Randelle can be reached at Green@RandelleGreen.com A graveside service will be held Mon., April 12, 2021 at 11:00am at Pleasant Hill Cemetery (Just south of 132nd & Dodge). A private family luncheon will be held following the service. Braman Mortuary (72 St. Chapel) 1702 N. 72 St. Omaha, NE68114 402-391-2171 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In Memory of Jerry Green, my Dad A message from Cynthia Jerry was born James Dixon Green, after his father James E. Green, and his mother Doris A. Dixon. He spent a few summers during HS at a Family Ranch in Durango, Colorado, belonging to a shirttail relative.Never quite developed his rodeo skills! His older brother Bobby, paved the way for Jerry to succeed in sports at Benson HS, home of the "Benson Bunnies"."Beware of the Hare!" they were both two of the first all-around athletes who lettered in more than 4 sports!He also formed a "rowdy" group in HS, known as the "Lepperdinee Boys!" These boys enjoyed many shenanigans throughout HS, and stayed fast friends for life, all enjoying much success throughout their lives.We loved the stories of the cars and the girls, in a James Dean sort of way! They also loved the life and music of Elvis Presley. Dad did some great imitations of Elvis. He was often teased for having the same moves and hair! Jerry was highly recruited by college football scouts, and received an offer letter from UNL, but declined and chose to attend UNO, preferring to remain in Omaha, as did his brother.To avoid the draft, he joined the US Airforce in 1951, Korean Wartime.He was stationed in Greenland, Thule, AFB, Iceland, Keflavik, Naval Air Station, Goose Bay, Labrador and St. Johns, Newfoundland, Pepperrell AFB.1n 2012, Grandson, Chase Savage, US Marine Corps, was in a wedding in St. Johns, Newfoundland, and we have both service men standing in front of Cabot Tower, 60 years apart! Jerry played infield for the Airforce Baseball team, winning their season, and even became part of the Base Regatta - RowingChampions in 1953. He also enjoyed Ice hockey and met my mother, Rita J. Frost while Ice Skating.They passed their love of the ice, on to myself and their Great-Granddaughter, Brielle.Both my parents were of the generation who loved to dance! Many great singers of that era, some of his favorites were the Beach Boys, Elvis, Buddy Holly, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra. Dad married the lovely, Rita J. Frost in 1957. He was 6 years older, and they had me in 1958, Rick in 1960, and Randall in 1964. Dad was an Insurance Agent with Physicians Mutual of Omaha, for most of his life. Unfortunately, they grew apart, and divorced in 1968. My father became a very handsome eligible single Dad at age 37, when there were not many of those in the 1960's. "Courtship of Eddie's Father - fitting TV show! We shared many funny stories of how he tried to date, with three kids in the house! He had to laugh, as we loved pranks, just like him! He even tried having a few eligible live-in nannies to help - very short lived! He passed up promotions with Physicians Mutual, to be home with his kids. He was an excellent father, and always did his best to instill the importance of timeliness and orderliness, in his kids. A for effort. LOLMany Jerryisms - "A place for everything and everything in its place", "Hurry up and wait", "First and Foremost", "We shall see -time will tell","You only have a drink at the end of your meal", Only have soda without ice", "Always do your best and never give up!" In 1973 we became much like the Brady Bunch (1969), or my favorite, Yours, Mine and Ours - the original 1968. He married Ila Fisher of Papillion, another beauty, with her 4 kids, Dave, Doug, Denise and Darren. Good thing she was such a good cook! Dad and Ila started “Jerry and Ila’s Antiques”.A very successful Antique Business. We joke, he was an American Picker, before “American Pickers!”He placed some of his large furniture pieces in various restaurants around Omaha and rural Nebraska.He enjoyed Antiques into his 80’s!He made many trips to visit me in Grand Island, where I moved in 1979. I married Randy Savage in 1981, and had Shayla in 1983, Chase in 1985. His marriage to Ila, came to an end in 1986. He then moved into my Grandparents home as they moved to a retirement community. When I became a single mom in 1988, he actually met me halfway in Nebraska, and kept the kids for a week. That gave him more time with them! He always loved his kids!I eventually moved back to Omaha in 1989, and he was a big help to myself and my children. They were able to spend more time with my Grandparents as well that year. I then made the big move to Denver in 1990 - where I remain and still love it here!Dad continued meeting me in NE, to keep the kids for a week, nice vacation for me!Both his parents died in 1992, this was a hard time for him. Dad had several other relationships, as he had many connections in the Omaha area. Virginia was a neighbor he became very close with, they enjoyed various travels. Yet, I could never get him to move to Colorado! Our family became very close to his last lady, Luella Toye. She was really a wonderful person and they lived together in our family home from 2003 until 2008.Dad and Lou made several trips to visit myself in Colorado, Randelle in California, and Rick in Nevada - she was quite a lady. She even convinced him to vacation in Jamaica!Hence, the famous picture he sent to Chase in Bootcamp!Lou lost her battle with Cancer in 2008.At age 77, Dad was really hit hard by losing the "Love of his life!" He remained close to Lou's children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all of the Omaha area, for some time. I began visiting Omaha more, as I started my Consulting company in 2008, and finally had more time. I came twice a year, and started bringing my little grandson, Brady, in 2009, when he turned 3! We had so much fun staying in hotels, seeing my Omaha cousins, still our favorite "Omaha Zoo", Baseball Games- Storm Chasers, of course driving to Lincoln to watch Nebraska Football! Brady started playing little league at age 5, majors, age 8-12.He then traveled to Omaha as his Majors team competed in the SlumpBuster tournaments, same time as the Omaha College World Series! These were fun times, as Dad was able to watch Brady play in a few games - then actually catch some of the College World Series action! Dad was very proud of his golf game at age 80! He was actually golfing with 5 guys from his Kindergarten class. The Omaha World Herald often featured them in the paper. One guy was even on oxygen. We all made it out to celebrate his 80th Birthday, July 2011, in the stifling Omaha summer heat, on the golf course - last time for me!!Dad loved it! However, in 2012, he suffered a stroke on the golf course. Drove himself to the VA, was taking too long, so he drove to Methodist, and was admitted. The good news - he made a full recovery - doctors were shocked! I guess that is the life for someone who never smoked or drank, good midwest genes! I continued my visits, in the spring and fall, and he continued golfing. In 2013 his Great-Granddaughter, Brielle was born. Brady was busy with his baseball travel schedule every weekend. In 2015, I started bringing Brielle with me to visit Grandpa Jerry! We did much of the same as with Brady, loved staying in the hotels and spending time with Dad. In August of 2018, we moved my brother Rick (58) retired from Nevada, in with Dad (87), to help with him, as he was starting to become confused, and lose his balance. We convinced him to go to rehab for an assessment, mostly for safety. Unfortunately, God always has his plan, and Jerry, who never gets sick, got food poisoning in the facility, aspirated, and went on a ventilator. This was between Christmas of 2018 and New Years, so by the time I arrived in Omaha on 1/2/2019, and insisted he be taken off the ventilator, prepared for the worst by hospice,he surprised everyone by saying "I am hungry- where are my teeth, glasses and hearing aid?? Luck again was with Jerry Green! He went to a rehab facility, where he recovered very well, but never to go back to his home, and would remain in a wheelchair, for balance issues. PT worked with him to use a walker. It fell to me to clean out our family home of 50 years, hold an estate sale, and sell the home - with the help of my brothers, and amazing cousins!! After the snow melted, then came the severe Nebraska Floods- Long story short - we both survived! He left rehab and moved into "The Waterford" Assisted Living. He remained there, celebrated his 88th Birthday, until "2020 Coronavirus". Which deserves its own chapter. Dad was not doing well in isolation with Covid 19. He was becoming more confused, depressed and declining alone in Omaha, in his large 3 room apartment. Knew I had to do something! Many of our friends and family are aware of my "rescue mission" to bust him out Memorial Weekend! My wonderful kids, Chase and Shayla, made the road trip to pick up Grandpa's belongings, and I flew out as his Doctors felt the hour flight would be better than the 8 hour road trip, perhaps in a moving van. Memories the kids and I will have for life, of obstacles, Dad's humor, my airport stories (Dad took a tumble), his flight with mask and gloves, etc.! A great time for your adult children to catch up on life! Many laughs later, he was all settled in an amazing group home here in Highlands Ranch, CO. He was with 5 other residents, and was more comfortable in his bedroom, as opposed to his 3 room apartment. Being a house - he could have visitors!! Right away, his friendliness and quick wit, still the flirt, made him a favorite with staff and residents. He enjoyed a fun summer watching Brady turn 14 (7/29), he turned 89 (7/31) at a family BBQ around the pool at our home, telling jokes!His dementia was increasing, still in a wheelchair and using his walker.He was able to catch one of Brady's HS baseball games, as it was finally close, and not too hot, play checkers with Brielle, and loved going out to dinner - especially having Root Beer in a frosty mug! We thought his strong body could go on for a good 5 years! Again, God had a different plan.Dad was to have a stoke on Friday, 11/6. On Saturday, he entered Hospice, and by Wednesday, Veterans Day, he took his last breath. I know this is what he wanted, he felt it was his time. His father also passed at 89. He did keep telling me something was wrong with his head? He died of Lewy Body Dementia, which explained his lack of balance, probably resulting from his 2012 Brain Stem Stroke. I was very close to my father, living with him at the vulnerable age of 10 years old. We kept our strong relationship throughout life's ups and downs.Cheers to YOU Dad - hope you are enjoying your parents, brother and friends - tipping a mug of endless Root Beer! Love, Cyndi -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Memories of My Father My Father served in the Korean war. While serving for our country is so commendable, he never spoke about it. Even when I asked him, there would hardly be a response. He died on Veterans day, there is something to that. My Dad didn’t smoke or drink, he would often swear to himself, but never at anyone else. I can’t recall ever having an argument with him. My life was a bit different than most and he wrote me a letter once that I kept, It said: “When it gets old and you’re wondering about your life, remember that it may not be right for everyone, but it’s right for you!” He was right for me too! Rick James Green 11/26/2020 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dad My earliest memories of my Dad revolve around A Street, LaVista, antique hunting and sports! A constant fixture of encouragement in my life. It was the late 40’s when Dad earned a nickname at Benson High School as “The King of Sports”. It was then when the University of Nebraska wrote him with interest in him coming to play football in Lincoln, he declined. Funny how things come full circle, it was 1982 when UNL came looking for his youngest son with the same interest. I remember Dad, Grandpa Green and my brother Rick coming down to Memorial Stadium to watch me practice where I introduced them to Coach Tom Osborne and some of the star players of the early 80’s. I remember Dad’s pride when he and I sat at an Omaha recruitment dinner, he always reminded me of that night! I remember his tears in 1983 when I tore my knee ligaments as he visited me in the hospital, we grew closer that night. As a kid, Dad and I would go out early in the mornings and “hunt antiques”, he was the original “American Picker”, while the AM radio in his gold El Camino would play, we would always stop for donuts and black coffee at Winchell’s, later in his life, he would transition to Cappuccino and Krispy Kreme! He loved his Sunday paper and would read it all week long, loved Nebraska football, Creighton basketball, the KC Royals and would follow all local Nebraska athletes throughout their pro careers like a proud father! Not a month would go by without receiving a thoughtful letter from Dad, all of his kids and Grandkids would often receive them. Personal notes, photo’s, newspaper clippings and words of encouragement. Dad seemed to be more comfortable writing down his feelings as opposed to voicing them and they would come like clockwork dating back as far as I can remember. In my eyes, if there is a legacy for my Dad, it is that he physically came out to California in 2001 and with determined persistence drove me to neighboring Nevada and insisted on reunited my Brother and I, who were estranged for some 17 years. For that I will always be thankful. I believe my Dad knew God, but not on a very intimate level and did not know Jesus as his Lord & Savior. When my Brother Rick came back home to Omaha in 2018, he would talk face to face to Dad about God, laying ground-work for what would come a couple years later. I am comforted to know that in Dad’s last few days my Sister Cynthia and I were able to lead him to Christ, where as a Christian, I believe he was “saved”, fully awakened and is now resting peacefully in heaven. I will miss his encouragement, his humor, his quirkiness and most of all his consistency. Dad was simply always there, a phone call away, feet up on that ottoman watching TV and reading that darn newspaper. I look forward to seeing him again. Randy Green 12/5/2020