Jerry Lee Williams

Jerry Lee Williams, (81), Lincoln, NE was born on June 20th, 1942 to Howard and Bess Williams on a small farm north of Culbertson, NE. He lived in the country and attended country school until the 8th grade, moving into the town of Trenton, where he worked at his dad's mechanic shop and his Aunt's gas station throughout high school. He graduated from Trenton High School in southwest Nebraska in 1959, at the age of 16, and enlisted in the US Air Force with his parents' permission. He was trained as a radar specialist in Texas and Mississippi before being stationed in Finland, Minnesota, where he met and married Lenine Petersen in September of 1962. During his military service, he was stationed at radar bases in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Alaska, and Colorado. In 1963, he and Lenine became parents to son, Todd; in 1967, to daughter, Kari; and in 1970, to daughter, Kelly. After an honorable discharge from the USAF, Jerry worked for KFOR Radio and Garner Tool & Dye in Lincoln, before returning to Trenton in 1977 to farm. Just like Jerry, his children all graduated from Trenton High School, and he was very proud that they were the third generation to do so. Jerry and Lenine returned to Lincoln in 1988, where Jerry began his truck driving career for Crete Carrier and later became the Facility Maintenance Manager for Cedars Youth Services, from which he retired. Jerry stayed very active with his grandchildren, and was a constant fixture at football games, wrestling meets, track meets, speech meets and play productions over the years. He was known to all of his grandchildren as "Boppa," rather than "Grandpa," and many of the kids he supported over the years at Tri County called him "Boppa" too. He was exceedingly proud of his military service and the fact that his son, son-in-law, and daughter served in the Air Force too, and he was especially delighted that his grandson is now serving in the Air Force as well. Over the years, he was a member of the Congregational United Church of Christ in Trenton, Eastern Star, the Masons, and was a Shriner who toured and competed with his group on their beloved white Harley Davidson motorcycles; later (and until his death) he was a member of Vine Congregational Church in Lincoln. He loved to travel after he retired and enjoyed trips to Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Greece, Italy, and France with his daughters and their families. He was a non-stop talker who never met a stranger, constantly boasted about his fantastic granddaughters and grandsons to whomever would listen, and was an amazing handyman who could fix anything from a blender to a semi-truck. As a matter of fact, his late wife, Lenine, had the same avocado green washer and dryer for over thirty years because no matter how hard she tried to break the set, he just kept fixing them!

He was preceded in death by Lenine, his parents, Howard & Bess Williams, and his sister, Jo Williams Griego.

Survivors include: son and daughter-in-law, Todd & Anissa, Little Falls, MN; daughters, sons-in-law, Kari and David Olson, Lenexa, KS, and Kelly and Delva Smith, Lincoln; & former daughter-in-law, Cynthia Williams. Grandchildren - Taryne Williams, Jeydon Smith, Alyson Olson, Tylyn (Nick) Layton, Abby (Canyon) Brock, Cooper (Kenessa) Smith, Trevin Williams, Hadley Olson, Dominic Smith, Ella Olson, Maddox Smith, & McKenzie Smith & special extra-grandchild, Oddy Houston. Great-grandchildren - Darrien, Harmony, Aubrey, and Roman, Brother-in-law, Nick Griego, Ft. Sumner, NM, nephews, nieces, and cousins.

Memorial Service for friends and family will be held 7:00 pm Friday, April 12, 2024 at Metcalf Funeral Home Chapel, 245 N. 27th Street, Lincoln, NE.

Pallbearers: Jeydon Smith, Cooper Smith, Dominic Smith, Maddox Smith, Trevin Williams, Canyon Brock, & Jerry Smith. Honorary Pallbearers: Jody Olson, Robb Griego, Nick Griego, Jr., Jerry Griego, and Nick Griego, Sr.

A family interment of ashes will be in Culbertson, NE on Saturday, April 13th, 2024.

Memorials to Cedars Youth Services or The United States Air Force Aid Society.