Obituary of Gerald Cross

Gerald Homer Cross was born to Miron and Lola, the fourth of five children, on January 25, 1921 in Marshalltown, Iowa. He grew up during the Great Depression and worked on farms or delivering papers, even as a small boy. Jerry was always a dedicated student and remained an avid learner throughout his life. After he graduated from high school, he joined the Army, shortly before World War ll. He rose to rank of staff sergeant, working as crew chief and airplane mechanic in the 392nd Bomb Group in 577th Squadron on the B24 Silver Streak. He flew over 30 missions in the European theater while stationed in England and his life was forever colored by those experiences. He lamented the men who died around him and the reality of war. Jerry wrote articles about some of his experiences for the B24 website, which he discovered while surfing the web to research and learn more about his missions and the war. After the war, Jerry settled in Boise, Idaho where he met and married Mary Deblieck in 1945. They had two children, Patrick and Karon, who they raised on a small farm in east Boise. Jerry worked as a carpenter and cabinet maker until he retired. Jerry was a thinking man. He recited poetry memorized in school and had a melodic singing voice he loved to use. His interests were many and he was truly an expert on what he was interested in. Although he never graduated from college, he taught classes at the university in wildflowers and mushrooms, as he was highly respected in those fields. But his greatest love in nature since childhood was ornithology. Jerry could identify a bird by it's call as he'd spent his free time roaming through the hardwood forests of Iowa, as a boy. His love of birds and nature were passed to his children and grandchildren, spending as much time as he could seeking birds, flowers and mushrooms in the wilds of Idaho. Jerry had a wonderful sense of humor and a sharp wit and never stopped joking, entertaining his nurses, doctors and caregivers to the end. He was an independent man who made up his own mind, always. He remained in his home until he was 92, with the unwavering support of his children who visited him every day, at home and then in his care facilities. He struggled with many long term ailments and there were many times it seemed he would not recover, but his determination and love of living saw him through to 93 years old. Jerry was a proud Irishman, so it seems appropriate that he passed peacefully on St. Patrick's Day with his son by his side. Jerry is survived by his children, Patrick Cross and Anita, Karon Richardson and Larry, his grandchildren, Jerry Cross and Rachel Cross and his five great-grandchildren, Kendall Cross, Jessie Paxton, Gabriel Paxton, Wilder and Daring Cross. He is preceded in death by all of his contemporaries, but survived by many nieces, nephews and friends whom he enjoyed throughout his life. A viewing at 11:00 AM will precede Funeral Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary on Saturday, March 22, 2014 at noon. A luncheon will follow the service and then a burial at Morris Hill Cemetery at 3:00 PM.