Memorials can be made in Jerry’s name to the Kossuth County Food Pantry in Algona. His final wish, take time to be kind. Kindness cost you nothing.
There will be no services at this time. There will be a Celebration of Jerry’s life at a later date in a private ceremony with family.
Jerry Leroy Payne was born January 19, 1931, in Beatrice, Nebraska, the son Leo and Ava (Chipman) Payne. He grew up in Beatrice and enlisted in the U.S. Navy after graduation from high school in 1950. He served as a Navy corpsman during the Korean War serving on the USS Bayfield, LSM 355 and at Alameda Naval Air Station.
On September 18, 1953 Jerry was united in marriage to fellow Korean War veteran Eleanor Buckley in Alameda California. After their discharges from military service they returned to Nebraska in 1954 to attend college. He attended Peru State College, graduating in 1957 with BA degrees in Biology, General Science and a minor in Geography. His first teaching job was in Hamburg, Iowa from 1957-1963. He relocated to Algona where he continued to teach for another 36 years. First teaching at Algona High School, followed by years at the O.B. Laing Middle School. While his passion was teaching, he always felt joyful visiting with former students whenever the met.
Jerry enjoyed wood working and carpentry, working several summers constructing homes with Bronson Builders. He enjoyed working with CHIPS, building and donating handcrafted furniture and doll houses for their annual silent auction fundraiser. A fan of the AHS Bulldogs girls Cross County and Softball teams, he often transported the teams equipment to out-of-town events. He was a member of the First Methodist Church of Algona.
Jerry died Tuesday, December 14, 2021, at the Good Samaritan Society-Algona. He was 90.
He is survived by his children: Dennis & Colleen Payne of Omaha, Nebraska; Kathleen Berg of Norfolk, Nebraska; Mark & Vivian Payne of Las Vegas, Nevada; Jeff & Melanie Payne of Algona, Iowa and many other relatives and friends.
He preceded in death by his parents; wife Eleanor; brother Jim.
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