Jerry Coonrod
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Funeral services for Jerry Coonrod, 83, Lawrence, KS will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, December 7, 2012 at the First United Methodist Church in Lawrence. Family will greet friends after the service. Interment will be held at the Ft. Scott National Cemetery in Ft. Scott, KS at 2:30 p.m. Jerry passed way at his home Saturday, December 1, 2012 after a long illness.
He was born March 24, 1929 in Fort Scott, KS, the son of John E and Hattie Dearing Coonrod.
Jerry married his beloved wife, Barbara Thornbrugh Coonrod, sixty-two years ago on March 9, 1950 in Fort Scott, KS.
He proudly served in the United States Army during the Korean War, and was awarded the Bronze Star. He was honorably discharged in 1953 with the rank of Sergeant First Class.
Over the 40 years Jerry was employed by KG&E, the Coonrod family lived in Wichita, Pittsburg, El Dorado, and Topeka. As Director of Public Affairs for the company, he was instrumental in successfully lobbying the Kansas Legislature securing the future of the Wolf Creek Power Plant which was eventually built near Burlington, KS.
In 1990 when Jerry retired, he and Barbara moved to Lawrence, KS where they became members of the First United Methodist Church. In the past, Jerry was also a member of the Lions Club and the Cosmopolitan Club. During his retirement, he pursued his passion for the game of golf belonging to both the Lawrence Country Club and Alvamar Country Club over the years. Jerry also spent leisure time training his dog Max, a Miniature Schnauzer, entering Max in many dog obedience trials winning various awards during competition.
Survivors include Jerry’s loving wife, Barbara of Lawrence; loving son, Brett Coonrod of Kansas City, MO; niece, Janan Fairman and husband Dan of El Dorado, KS, great niece, Amy Hamm and husband, Robert and their daughter, Sutton of Olathe, KS; great niece, Macy Cargnel and her husband Mike and their son, Beckett of Kansas City, MO. Other nieces and nephews reside in Hastings, MN. Also included is Max, Jerry’s dedicated canine companion.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent in his name to First United Methodist Church or the Jerry Coonrod Family Scholarship Fund and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary or directly to Partners in Education, 124 West Central, El Dorado, KS 67042.
Go with GOD Jerry–we love you. Thank you Barbara and Brett for your loving care of Jerry. What a great guy Jerry was–loved by all.
Jerry Coonrod had a sweet spirit and an infectious smile. Knowing him as neighbor and friend over the past decade enriched my husband’s and my life in a very special way. My deepest condolences to Barbara, Brett, & Jan and extended family. We all have lost a hero. May he rest in the peace of God.
What a great cousin. As a teenager, Jerry took me on my fist, and I decided my last, motorcycle ride. He gave me his school trumpet, which began my music career. He was best man at our wedding even though he forgot to bring the ring.LOVE YOU JERRY. Rest with God.
Barbara, we will keep in touch.
Barbara, Gary and I are thinking about you and your family this week. We send you thoughts of peace and solace. You have been heroic.
Jerry was very special to me! He always made me smile and I loved spending time with he and Barbara and Max. Jerry read my name tag one day and re-named me, “Leemon!”
I have so many good memories!
Barbara, you will be in my prayers and my thoughts.
Leigh Ann
To the family and friends of Jerry, I’m so very sorry for your loss. You will all be in my prayers…
Note: I never knew Jerry personally. I just found out this last weekend while doing genealogy that his mom Hattie and my great grandmother were second cousins. ( Both these ladies were members of the DAR where I found the connection.)
I just happened to be reading the Lawrence paper tonight (Dec 6th) in the west Lawrence Dillon’s store, when on the second page I saw the name “Coonrod” that stood out in my mind. Then when I read the name of Jerry’s mom, I recognized the connection right away…, and to think I have lived in Douglas County since the 1980’s and had no idea I was related to anybody.
Dec 6th is my birthday, and I think God wanted me to run into Hattie’s name this last weekend as well as see Jerry’s obituary tonight.
Maybe the lesson for me to learn is that I should keep my fellow man in my prayers because the one we pray for might just be our brother — if not literally than figuratively.
My deepest condolences go out to the Coonrod family. I had the pleasure of working with Jerry as one of his caregivers and he was one of the kindest and most gentle person I’ve ever met. Although I did not have the pleasure of knowing him for a long time both he and Barbara had a great impact on my life. May Jerry Rest in Peace.