Gerald "Jerry" Smith Obituary

Gerald “Jerry” Smith, age 76, of Palisade NE, passed away on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at his home near Florence, AZ, with family by his side, after a long battle with cancer. 

Jerry was born February 21, 1948, to parents Ralph E. and Gladys E. Smith at St. Catherine’s Hospital in McCook NE. He was one of three sons who grew up in Palisade, attending and graduating from Palisade High School in 1966. Following graduation, he attended McCook Community College for two years. 

On June 8, 1968, Jerry married his high school sweetheart, Jenene K. Phares, in the Palisade United Methodist Church. Together, they moved, with their young son, Jeffrey, to Kearney NE, where they both attended Kearney State College. Jerry graduated in 1971, with a bachelor's degree in business administration. While in Kearney, he worked for various area Pizza Hut restaurants and was eventually offered a manager’s position in Grand Island NE where he helped build and manage a new location there. 

In the fall of 1973, Jerry moved his family to his parents’ farm northeast of Palisade where he, in addition to farming, raised cattle. Several years later, he served on the Board of Directors of AmFirst Bank of Hayes Center. 

In January of 1977, son, Matthew, was born. From an early age, Jerry instilled in both his sons a strong work ethic, a love of farming the land, along with an enjoyment of hunting, fishing, camping and golf. 

In 2009, Jerry and Jenene began traveling to Arizona for the winters, later retiring there enjoying many activities such as hiking, playing pickleball and bocce ball, and traveling to many locations including touring the great state of Arizona in their red Corvette. Jerry liked socializing with other retirees and expressing his love and support of the Cornhusker football and volleyball programs as well as sharing his passion for farming. 

Special loved ones in his life were his grandchildren. He enjoyed attending their school and sporting events. 

Jerry was proceeded in death by his parents, one brother; Charles, sisters-in-law Minnie Smith and Nicole Smith. 

Those left to celebrate his life include his loving wife, Jenene, of Florence, AZ, sons Jeffrey Smith of Palisade NE and Matthew (Jamie) Smith of Chandler AZ; one brother, Donald Smith, of Sarasota FL; four grandchildren including Samual Smith and Madison Smith of Palisade NE and Jackson Smith and Kate Smith of Chandler AZ two sisters-in-law, DeAnna Schutte of Ravenna NE and Judy Malone of Scobey MT, as well as several nieces and nephews, many friends and his faithful dog, Maggie. 

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2-3 pm on Friday, October 4, 2024, at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home in McCook, NE. Private family burial will take place at the Palisade Cemetery in Palisade, NE.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions will be accepted to the Hayes County Volunteer Fire and Rescue/Hayes County Rural Fire Department, 500 Tate Ave., Hayes Center, NE, 69032 or the Palisade Volunteer Fire and Rescue, PO Box 263, Palisade NE 69040. 

Carpenter Breland Funeral Home, McCook, has been entrusted with the arrangements. Please visit our website at www.carpenterbreland.com to sign the online guestbook for the family.