Jerry P. Lightner

DELAND, Fla. - Former Great Falls High School biology teacher Jerry P. Lightner, 81, of DeLand, Fla., a retired senior consultant for Xerox Corp., who enjoyed pheasant and duck hunting in Montana, aviation, guns and shooting sports, carpentry and travel, died Tuesday at a hospice in Orange City, Fla., of complications from multiple myeloma.
Cremation has taken place and, at his request, no services are planned. Lankford Funeral Home of DeLand, Fla., is in charge of arrangements.
Dr. Lightner is survived by Magdalena, his wife of 42 years; son and daughter-in-law Jon and Mary Ellen Cimillo of Bangor, Maine; daughter and son-in-law Jean and Blaine Norum of Char-lottesville, Va.; two grandsons, Don and Steve Norum; and sister and brother-in-law Jo and Don Groulik of Schuyler, Neb.
His first marriage to Ardyce Stevens Lightner ended in di-vorce.
Dr. Lightner was born on May 14, 1929, in St. Edward, Neb. He earned four degrees, and completed his doctorate in organic chemistry and science education at the University of Northern Colorado. Professionally, he taught biology from 1954 to 1964 at Great Falls (Montana) High School; then served as executive director of the National Asso-ciation of Biology Teachers in Washington, D.C., until 1978. In 1979, he became a senior consultant for Xerox Corporation, primarily in the area of real estate operations, with assignments domestically and internationally.
He was united in marriage on Feb. 8, 1969, to Magdalena DeKock. Together, they renovated and lived in a 200-year-old log cabin in rural Loudoun County, Va., before moving to a house atop the Blue Ridge Mountains, where they lived for 15 years. Upon his retirement from Xerox in 1995, they divided their time for eight years between Virginia and Marbella, Spain, before establishing permanent residence in DeLand in 2004.
During his academic and corporate career, Dr. Lightner developed 21 technical training programs, published more than 40 educational and scientific papers, authored or co-authored five books, and edited one monthly journal and two newsletters. In 1967, he was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and he held life memberships in several scientific and educational organizations. In his early years, he was an avid pheasant and duck hunter in Nebraska and Montana. He then developed a passion for tennis. Other interests included aviation, guns and shooting sports, automobiles, carpentry and travel. For more than half a century, Dr. Lightner benefited from health care provided by the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. In the last week of his life, Dr. Lightner received extraordinary care at the Hospice of Volu-sia/Flagler in Orange City.
In lieu of flowers, his family suggests any remembrances be made to the Hospice of Volu-sia/Flagler, c/o the West Volusia Care Center, 3800 Woodbriar Trail, Port Orange, FL 32129.
Condolences may be posted online at www.gftribune.com/obituaries.