Gerald Matthew "Jerry" Underwood

Gerald Matthew Underwood, age 59, of Blair Nebraska, passed away from pancreatic cancer on Thursday, June 28, 2018, at home surrounded by his family. A memorial service with military honors was held on Monday, July 2, 2018 at First United Methodist Church in Blair.

Jerry was born on March 27, 1959, at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base near Tucson, Arizona, the son of Patrick and Barbara Underwood. Jerry graduated from Manhattan High School in Manhattan, Montana in 1977. After high school, he joined the United States Air Force as an Avionics Navigation Systems Specialist and was stationed at K.I. Sawyer AFB, Michigan, working on B-52 Bombers and KC-135 Aerial Refueling aircraft. Jerry met Rebecca Woodard and they were married on July 28, 1979, in Gwinn, Michigan. In 1980, the couple welcomed their first child, Michael, and in 1981, their daughter, Jennifer. In 1982, Jerry was honorably discharged from the Air Force and the family moved back to Nebraska. Jerry was employed with the Blair Community Schools.

Jerry enjoyed fishing and loved watching his Nebraska Cornhuskers football team. He was an avid Husker fan during good times and bad. He will always be remembered as a devoted husband, and a loving father and grandfather.

Jerry was preceded in death by his father, Patrick Underwood. He is survived by his wife, Becky Underwood; children, Mike (Cheree) Underwood of Lincoln, Nebraska and Jenny (Tim) Leake of Omaha, Nebraska; grandchildren, Aliya, Lexi, Aubrie, Dae Shaun and Jonathan; mother, Barbara Underwood of Churchill, Montana.; siblings, Diana (Glen) Flikkema, Deborah (David) Hinchcliff, David (Jody) Underwood all of Churchill, Montana; sister-in-law, Debra Woodard; brother-in-law, Michael Woodard; and father and mother-in-law, Jim and Kay Woodard, all of Blair, Nebraska; and several nieces and nephews.