Jerry Jarnagan

Jerry Lee Jarnagan, 83, of Cibolo, Texas passed away at 9:23 AM on Saturday, November 19, 2022. His wife Pam and daughter Bambii were with him when God took his hand and led him home.

Jerry was born October 27,1939 on a farm in Groveland, Illinois. His parents were Willis Berry (Bud) and Lorene Jarnagan. He spent much of his youth working with his father on dairy farms in Illinois and Indiana. He loved animals and as a young boy had horses Speck and Sandy and a dog that he loved very much. In his teen years, he moved to California with his parents. Throughout high school and beyond his graduation in 1957, he held several jobs until he found his niche when he joined Lockheed Aircraft Corporation on November 2, 1961. After a few short months at Lockheed, he assumed he would be drafted and decided to proactively enlist.

In 1962 he joined the United States Air Force and reported to Lackland AFB in Texas and completed basic training at Chanute AFB in Illinois. As destiny would have it, his high school sweetheart moved to Illinois the year before. They reunited and were married at Arcadia Lutheran Church in Peoria on May 12, 1962. Together, they spent the next four years of his active duty at Seymour Johnson AFB in Goldsboro, North Carolina. During his time in Goldsboro, he also became a father. On November 3,1964 he welcomed his only child, his daughter Bambii-Lyn.

In 1966, Jerry returned to Van Nuys, California where he would conclude his military career with two years of active reserve duty. He returned to Lockheed Aircraft Corporation where he would spend his career until his retirement on July 1, 1995. He was very proud of his cumulative 35-years at Lockheed, where he held various roles from sweeping chips at the burr bench to machinist to management. He was especially proud of his many years at Lockheed Skunk Works in both Burbank and Palmdale, where he supported the then top secret U2, SR-71, F117 and Dark Star projects.

Jerry and Pam moved to Cibolo, Texas in January 1996 with the goal of enjoying retirement and spending time with his brother Ralph (Sonny) Hawkins. He surprised everyone by embracing retirement since he was known as a workaholic. He became comfortable with technology, staying up to speed on world events and keeping in touch with the important people in his life. In leaving the top-secret world behind, his smile and sense of humor soon replaced his isolated life of secrecy. He enjoyed bowling at the Cibolo Bowling Club and Randolph Pioneer League. He loved being around people and the camaraderie of the bowling alley where he could discuss the events of the day, interject his views on politics and most enjoyably tell jokes.

Jerry lived a simple life by a simple yet very important code: integrity, honesty, loyalty. He loved God, his Country, the American Flag, the American Bald Eagle, and all things patriotic. He had a lifetime passion for aviation and especially the aircraft he had a role in building. He was proud of his service to his country and very thankful to all who served and continued to serve. He believed in Freedom, the importance of history, and respect. He dedicated his life to the things that mattered to him. He gave his most important and valuable gift of time to his family and friends. He didn’t leave this world with stories of world travel and material possessions. Travel was always annual family vacations to see parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Birthdays and holidays were always recognized and if family couldn’t be together, he never missed a phone call to hear those he loved on the other end of the phone. He was a great man that cared for and looked out for others every day of his life. There isn’t anything he wouldn’t do for the people he loved. He was kind to animals and believed “live and let live.”

At six-foot, four-inches tall, he was a giant of a man with a John Wayne presence and the gentle heart of a teddy bear.

Jerry is survived by the love of his life and wife of 60-years, Pamela (Pam) Jarnagan, daughter Bambii-Lyn Jarnagan (David), and his adored Panda (shih tzu) and Stripes (cat). Also surviving are sister and brother-in-law Lesa Gonzalez (Louie), nieces and nephews Jessica Nunez (Alex), Will Gonzalez (Mike), and Caitlin Gonzalez (Kalin). He is preceded in death by his parents Bud and Lorene Jarnagan and brother Ralph (Sonny) Hawkins. It is important to note that Jerry was adopted and spent most of his life searching for information and answers to where he came from. On his 70th birthday he discovered that his birth mother Clara Helen Moritz Hofstetter preceded him in death many years before. After a lifetime of questions, on Father’s Day weekend in 2018, Jerry, Pam and Bambii traveled to Illinois to attend a family reunion and meet his biological siblings for the very first time. It was a wonderful and welcoming visit that provided closure and new beginnings with the family it took a lifetime to find. He is survived by his siblings Roberta (Bobbie) Hofstetter Zwetz, Dorothy Hofstetter Purdie (preceded in death), Thomas (Tom) Hofstetter, William (Bill) Hofstetter, Betty Hofstetter Holleman and Rose Hofstetter Sanders.

A visitation will be held in Texas on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 from 5:00-7:00 PM at Schertz Funeral Home in Schertz. In lieu of flowers at the Schertz visitation, we ask that you share a memory or tell a story about Jerry as a tribute.

A funeral service will be held in Illinois on Saturday, December 10, 2022 at 1:00 PM at Haskell Funeral Home in Princeville. Visitation will be one-hour prior to the service at 12:00 PM. His final resting place will be Princeville Township Cemetery.