Jerry Lee Calbert

Jerry Lee Calbert of Rockford, IL departed this life on 6/23/25 after a long hard fought battle with stage 4 liver cancer. He is now resting painlessly with his father in heaven. Jerry was a native of Warren, AR where he was born on January 4th 1951, in a home birth on the "Northend".. God broke the mold after Jerry was born to the late Leroy and Pauline Calbert. He was the third of 6 siblings. Jerry was an esteemed alumnus of Bradley County High School, located in Warren, AR. He graduated in 1969. His time at this all black high school taught him a great love for community that he would carry with him for a lifetime. After graduation he tried out the workforce for 2 years, where he was on the crew at the local lumber company, Potlatch. In 1971 he took the next step in his life. Jerry joined the United States Marine Corp where he served his county for 4 years. After serving his country and soaring some wild oats, he settled down in Rockford, IL. He started a career at Bergstrom as a material specialist. In 1988 he married Ruthie Lee Dotson. With this union they beautifully blended their 6 children into a lifetime of love and admiration. Over the 37 years of marriage their family has more than doubled in size, as they have been blessed with 17 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. In his pastime you could find him fishing and teaching his grands the lay of the land. In 1990 he gave his life back to God and joined St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church in Rockford, IL. Where he served God in many roles. He was the president of the usher ministry and a member of the decon board. He served as the president of the usher council that consisted of 25 churches in the area until his health failed him. He was unable to serve, but never let go of God's unchanging hand. In 2016 he retired from Bergstrom after 29 years of service. In 2018 he returned to his position. In 2022 he retired for good for a total of 33 years of service. He was predeceased in death by his parents Leroy and Pauline Calbert, 2 brothers Kenneth Calbert, and Herbert Moore. His memory will live on with his wife Ruthie Lee Dotson Calbert; his 3 siblings; Kathryn Moore Bell of Rockford, IL; Joe Calbert of Warren, AR and Alice Matthews of Warren, AR; his 6 children; Gerry Antwun Collins (Shawana) of Milwaukee, WI; Bernickeya Dione Dotson of Rockford, IL; Catrina Dotson of Rockford, IL; Raymond Holleman of Fairbanks, AK; Alneter (Reggie) Jackson of Jonesboro, AR; and Shena Collins of Milwaukee, WI; his 17 grandchildren; his 17 great grandchildren, the entire Dotson family ( who treated him as their own) and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. Memorial Services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday July 12, 2025 at St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church 2919 19th Street.