Jerry E. Blackburn of Bloomington, Indiana passed away peacefully on December 14th, 2015. He was 92 years old.
Born in Bedford to Reed and Nola (East) Blackburn on September 27, 1923, Jerry was one of seven children. Jerry’s three brothers — Reed, James and Andrew Blackburn — and three sisters — Helen (Gore), Jane (Foddrill) and Rose (Buchanan) — are all deceased.
He most recently celebrated his 70th wedding anniversary with his wife, Mildred (Woods) Blackburn on November 17, 2015. Together, they have two daughters, Rosemary Nigh (Jerry) of Castle Rock, Colorado and Jerry Lou Curry (Gene) of Bloomington, Indiana.
Jerry proudly served in the U.S. Navy in both World War II and the Korean War. While serving in the U.S. Navy, Jerry was one of the U.S. soldiers who fought in the Battle at Tarawa in World War II, which is known to this day to be one of the deadliest battles in the US Marine Corps history. He was on LST 242, which was responsible for delivering the marines to the shores of the tiny island where almost 5000 Japanese soldiers had been waiting for more than a year. Jerry had just celebrated his 18th birthday two months prior. The battle lasted several days with the U.S. winning control of the island. But the loss was many. More than 3000 US Marines and all but 17 of the Japanese soldiers lost their lives in the battle in just a few days.
Following his service with the Navy, Jerry returned to Bloomington to work at Crane Naval Weapons Support Center for more than 30 years in the armament restoration division until he retired.
After retiring, he and Mildred opened an antique business and spent much of their free time at auctions, refinishing furniture and running the shop (Country Cupboard Antiques) at their home on State Road 45.
Jerry’s legacy to all of us is the value of the “simple things in life”. He showed each of us that true happiness comes from the smallest of things. His lessons were important. He diligently taught respect for money, respect for time and respect for hard work. As one of the last remaining of the “Greatest Generation” he truly personified the dignity and strength it took to survive and thrive as a man.
He loved fishing, hunting mushrooms, growing a garden, playing cards, spending time with family, collecting coins and clocks and watching game shows and sports.
He has seven grandchildren: Natalie (Curry) Walker and Tyler Curry of Bloomington; Shannon (Curry) Bartnick of Newburgh; Rachel (Curry) Goodburn of Carmel; Kim (Nigh) Davis of Las Vegas, NV; Whitney (Nigh) Cain of Denver, CO; and Andrea (Nigh) Musfeldt of Kansas City, KS.; There are 15 great¬ grandchildren: Lucas and Logan Bartnick; Hannah Walker; Max, Grant and Reed Goodburn; Grace, Carson and Foster Curry; Owen and Wade Davis; McKinley and Addie Cain; and Tennyson and Rylin Musfeldt.
Jerry is a member of First Christian Church and the American Legion in Bloomington and Past Grand Master of the Stanford Masonic Lodge.
Services will be 1:30pm Friday, December 18, 2015 at The Funeral Chapel of Powell and Deckard, 3000 E. Third St. in Bloomington. Burial will follow at Clover Hill Cemetery in Harrodsburg where military honors will be performed.
The family will receive friends 11am-1:30pm on Friday at The Funeral Chapel.
Born in Bedford to Reed and Nola (East) Blackburn on September 27, 1923, Jerry was one of seven children. Jerry’s three brothers — Reed, James and Andrew Blackburn — and three sisters — Helen (Gore), Jane (Foddrill) and Rose (Buchanan) — are all deceased.
He most recently celebrated his 70th wedding anniversary with his wife, Mildred (Woods) Blackburn on November 17, 2015. Together, they have two daughters, Rosemary Nigh (Jerry) of Castle Rock, Colorado and Jerry Lou Curry (Gene) of Bloomington, Indiana.
Jerry proudly served in the U.S. Navy in both World War II and the Korean War. While serving in the U.S. Navy, Jerry was one of the U.S. soldiers who fought in the Battle at Tarawa in World War II, which is known to this day to be one of the deadliest battles in the US Marine Corps history. He was on LST 242, which was responsible for delivering the marines to the shores of the tiny island where almost 5000 Japanese soldiers had been waiting for more than a year. Jerry had just celebrated his 18th birthday two months prior. The battle lasted several days with the U.S. winning control of the island. But the loss was many. More than 3000 US Marines and all but 17 of the Japanese soldiers lost their lives in the battle in just a few days.
Following his service with the Navy, Jerry returned to Bloomington to work at Crane Naval Weapons Support Center for more than 30 years in the armament restoration division until he retired.
After retiring, he and Mildred opened an antique business and spent much of their free time at auctions, refinishing furniture and running the shop (Country Cupboard Antiques) at their home on State Road 45.
Jerry’s legacy to all of us is the value of the “simple things in life”. He showed each of us that true happiness comes from the smallest of things. His lessons were important. He diligently taught respect for money, respect for time and respect for hard work. As one of the last remaining of the “Greatest Generation” he truly personified the dignity and strength it took to survive and thrive as a man.
He loved fishing, hunting mushrooms, growing a garden, playing cards, spending time with family, collecting coins and clocks and watching game shows and sports.
He has seven grandchildren: Natalie (Curry) Walker and Tyler Curry of Bloomington; Shannon (Curry) Bartnick of Newburgh; Rachel (Curry) Goodburn of Carmel; Kim (Nigh) Davis of Las Vegas, NV; Whitney (Nigh) Cain of Denver, CO; and Andrea (Nigh) Musfeldt of Kansas City, KS.; There are 15 great¬ grandchildren: Lucas and Logan Bartnick; Hannah Walker; Max, Grant and Reed Goodburn; Grace, Carson and Foster Curry; Owen and Wade Davis; McKinley and Addie Cain; and Tennyson and Rylin Musfeldt.
Jerry is a member of First Christian Church and the American Legion in Bloomington and Past Grand Master of the Stanford Masonic Lodge.
Services will be 1:30pm Friday, December 18, 2015 at The Funeral Chapel of Powell and Deckard, 3000 E. Third St. in Bloomington. Burial will follow at Clover Hill Cemetery in Harrodsburg where military honors will be performed.
The family will receive friends 11am-1:30pm on Friday at The Funeral Chapel.
Jerry E. Blackburn of Bloomington, Indiana passed away peacefully on December 14th, 2015. He was 92 years old.
Born in Bedford to Reed and Nola (East) Blackburn on September 27, 1923, Jerry was one of seven children. Jerry’s three brothers — Reed, James and Andrew Blackburn — and three sisters — Helen (Gore), Jane (Foddrill) and Rose (Buchanan) — are all deceased.
He most recently celebrated his 70th wedding anniversary with his wife, Mildred (Woods) Blackburn on November 17, 2015. Together, they have two daughters, Rosemary Nigh (Jerry) of Castle Rock, Colorado and Jerry Lou Curry (Gene) of Bloomington, Indiana.
Jerry proudly served in the U.S. Navy in both World War II and the Korean War. While serving in the U.S. Navy, Jerry was one of the U.S. soldiers who fought in the Battle at Tarawa in World War II, which is known to this day to be one of the deadliest battles in the US Marine Corps history. He was on LST 242, which was responsible for delivering the marines to the shores of the tiny island where almost 5000 Japanese soldiers had been waiting for more than a year. Jerry had just celebrated his 18th birthday two months prior. The battle lasted several days with the U.S. winning control of the island. But the loss was many. More than 3000 US Marines and all but 17 of the Japanese soldiers lost their lives in the battle in just a few days.
Following his service with the Navy, Jerry returned to Bloomington to work at Crane Naval Weapons Support Center for more than 30 years in the armament restoration division until he retired.
After retiring, he and Mildred opened an antique business and spent much of their free time at auctions, refinishing furniture and running the shop (Country Cupboard Antiques) at their home on State Road 45.
Jerry’s legacy to all of us is the value of the “simple things in life”. He showed each of us that true happiness comes from the smallest of things. His lessons were important. He diligently taught respect for money, respect for time and respect for hard work. As one of the last remaining of the “Greatest Generation” he truly personified the dignity and strength it took to survive and thrive as a man.
He loved fishing, hunting mushrooms, growing a garden, playing cards, spending time with family, collecting coins and clocks and watching game shows and sports.
He has seven grandchildren: Natalie (Curry) Walker and Tyler Curry of Bloomington; Shannon (Curry) Bartnick of Newburgh; Rachel (Curry) Goodburn of Carmel; Kim (Nigh) Davis of Las Vegas, NV; Whitney (Nigh) Cain of Denver, CO; and Andrea (Nigh) Musfeldt of Kansas City, KS.; There are 15 great¬ grandchildren: Lucas and Logan Bartnick; Hannah Walker; Max, Grant and Reed Goodburn; Grace, Carson and Foster Curry; Owen and Wade Davis; McKinley and Addie Cain; and Tennyson and Rylin Musfeldt.
Jerry is a member of First Christian Church and the American Legion in Bloomington and Past Grand Master of the Stanford Masonic Lodge.
Services will be 1:30pm Friday, December 18, 2015 at The Funeral Chapel of Powell and Deckard, 3000 E. Third St. in Bloomington. Burial will follow at Clover Hill Cemetery in Harrodsburg where military honors will be performed.
The family will receive friends 11am-1:30pm on Friday at The Funeral Chapel.
Born in Bedford to Reed and Nola (East) Blackburn on September 27, 1923, Jerry was one of seven children. Jerry’s three brothers — Reed, James and Andrew Blackburn — and three sisters — Helen (Gore), Jane (Foddrill) and Rose (Buchanan) — are all deceased.
He most recently celebrated his 70th wedding anniversary with his wife, Mildred (Woods) Blackburn on November 17, 2015. Together, they have two daughters, Rosemary Nigh (Jerry) of Castle Rock, Colorado and Jerry Lou Curry (Gene) of Bloomington, Indiana.
Jerry proudly served in the U.S. Navy in both World War II and the Korean War. While serving in the U.S. Navy, Jerry was one of the U.S. soldiers who fought in the Battle at Tarawa in World War II, which is known to this day to be one of the deadliest battles in the US Marine Corps history. He was on LST 242, which was responsible for delivering the marines to the shores of the tiny island where almost 5000 Japanese soldiers had been waiting for more than a year. Jerry had just celebrated his 18th birthday two months prior. The battle lasted several days with the U.S. winning control of the island. But the loss was many. More than 3000 US Marines and all but 17 of the Japanese soldiers lost their lives in the battle in just a few days.
Following his service with the Navy, Jerry returned to Bloomington to work at Crane Naval Weapons Support Center for more than 30 years in the armament restoration division until he retired.
After retiring, he and Mildred opened an antique business and spent much of their free time at auctions, refinishing furniture and running the shop (Country Cupboard Antiques) at their home on State Road 45.
Jerry’s legacy to all of us is the value of the “simple things in life”. He showed each of us that true happiness comes from the smallest of things. His lessons were important. He diligently taught respect for money, respect for time and respect for hard work. As one of the last remaining of the “Greatest Generation” he truly personified the dignity and strength it took to survive and thrive as a man.
He loved fishing, hunting mushrooms, growing a garden, playing cards, spending time with family, collecting coins and clocks and watching game shows and sports.
He has seven grandchildren: Natalie (Curry) Walker and Tyler Curry of Bloomington; Shannon (Curry) Bartnick of Newburgh; Rachel (Curry) Goodburn of Carmel; Kim (Nigh) Davis of Las Vegas, NV; Whitney (Nigh) Cain of Denver, CO; and Andrea (Nigh) Musfeldt of Kansas City, KS.; There are 15 great¬ grandchildren: Lucas and Logan Bartnick; Hannah Walker; Max, Grant and Reed Goodburn; Grace, Carson and Foster Curry; Owen and Wade Davis; McKinley and Addie Cain; and Tennyson and Rylin Musfeldt.
Jerry is a member of First Christian Church and the American Legion in Bloomington and Past Grand Master of the Stanford Masonic Lodge.
Services will be 1:30pm Friday, December 18, 2015 at The Funeral Chapel of Powell and Deckard, 3000 E. Third St. in Bloomington. Burial will follow at Clover Hill Cemetery in Harrodsburg where military honors will be performed.
The family will receive friends 11am-1:30pm on Friday at The Funeral Chapel.
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