Jerry Sheneman
Daylight's burning! Let's make the fur fly!
Obituary
Gerald Dean Sheneman was born butt first on a cold Nebraska day, son of a meat cutter.
Jerry entered the world on his own terms on January 16, 1953, and that is how he lived his life.
He left the world peacefully on September 3, 2026.
He considered himself a bit of a rebel, just like the outlaw country artists he loved listening to – most notably Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson.
Son of Leland and Betty Sheneman, Jerry loved growing up in Holdrege, Nebraska and remembered his childhood fondly. He was proud of his Nebraska roots and had many memories of childhood adventures with his siblings Roger and Judy and their many cousins.
When Jerry was entering high school, his family moved to Loveland, Colorado. His Dad told him, “Get over there, and meet the neighbor kids!” It didn’t take long for him to notice the beautiful neighbor girl, Patty Amack. He kissed her the day he met her and knew that day he wanted to marry her. After graduating high school, they married in 1971, and spent 48 wonderful years together until she died in 2019.
Jerry was hired at Hewlett-Packard in Loveland, CO on February 24, 1972 – the very same night his son Lucas James was born! His daughter Kelly Anne was born just 17 months later. Jerry worked at Hewlett-Packard for 34 years in three locations: Loveland, Colorado, Boise, Idaho and Corvallis, Oregon. Jerry traveled to Singapore and Puerto Rico for work. As a production manager, he was very driven and motivated to achieve success. When in Corvallis, Jerry had a few unique practices to motivate his staff, such as promising them if they achieved their goals that he would dress as a leprechaun, and on another occasion shave his head. Of course his crew crushed their goals and he indeed followed through with his promises!
Jerry left Hewlett-Packard in 2005 and moved to Beatrice, Nebraska, and then Boise, Idaho. He and Patty went on several adventures in their motorhome. He was so grateful to have spent that precious time with Patty. One of their favorite destinations was the Oregon Coast, where they visited often. For many years they gathered for "Crabba Dabba Doo" - a celebration of friendship and seafood with their best friends, Mike and Sue Despot of Boise.
Jerry accepted a job in Pullman, Washington as a manufacturing supervisor at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) in 2012. He enjoyed his time there, and was happy to live close to his son and be within a day’s drive of his daughter.
He was a fun and dedicated Grandpa! He told elaborate tall tales and jokes, played Wii bowling, and taught his grandkids how to play poker.
Ever creative, Jerry was an artist at heart! He masterfully renovated the homes he lived in and expressed himself through oil painting, wood carving and woodworking. He loved his new wood shop and had plans of setting up an online store to sell his creations.
His playful spirit was part of his genetic make-up. He was always turning anything and everything into a game or competition, and usually liked to place bets on it! Speaking of which, Jerry was a passionate poker and blackjack player and enjoyed spending time playing in casinos. He even wrote a book on the subject: Honest to Goodness Blackjack. In his later years, he found friendship and camaraderie in the poker community in Clarkston, Washington.
Jerry will be missed by many and remembered as a playful, creative, rebellious and exceptionally hard-working man.
He is survived by his son Luke and wife Morgan and daughter Kelly and husband Jeremy and five grandchildren: Henry, Annika, Jack, Linnea and Shepard, his brother Roger and sister Judy.
Immediate family will be gathering at the Oregon Coast to honor Jerry's life in lieu of a public service.
Special thanks
Sincere thanks to all the amazing and caring people at Puget Sound Home Health and Hospice. We were so fortunate to have these angels on Earth alongside us on this journey.
Special thanks to Helen, Jerry's amazing caregiver from Home Instead. During his last months, Helen spent time each week with Jerry, caring for him with kindness and compassion.
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The four of us would go the Pacific coast to enjoy a crab feast. Jerry named this annual event, Crab-A-Daba-Doo. Jerry would bring crab pots along with aged, smelly chicken, for bait. Mike and Jerry dropped this pots in the bay at Newport Oregon. Then after a bit of time go back an pull them up full of crab.
Once back to our rental Patty and Sue would add a great selection of items to go with our crab dinner. What really made these outing special, was Jerry’s great sense of humor, his made up games and the clever and silly items he would always bring.
As time went on, Jerry who already had tremendous craftsman skills started exibiting his artistic skills. He gave us his carving of an Indian head, that was his first every wood carving. Later he also gave us two of his beautiful paintings. He also made a very special walking stick for Mike. These items are precious to us and will always remind us of not only his great talent but of his great friendship. He will be sorely missed. RIP Jerry
Mike and Sue Despot
I will always remember his advice, his stories, and the way he spoke so lovingly about his wife. He often told me how deeply they loved each other, and how excited he was to be reunited with her in Heaven.
I feel grateful that I had the opportunity to know Jerry and share those special moments with him. He will always be remembered and missed.
May God rest his soul in eternal peace. 🤍
Theres too many stories to rell so Ill leave with an Irish blessing
'Ar dheis De go raibh a anam agus Suaimheas siorai da hanam'
(May his soul be at the right hand of God and Eternal peace to his Soyl)
Rest well dear Friend
Paschal & Paula From across the pond
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