Jerome Paul Grudzinski went to be with the Lord on July 7, 2005 after a lengthy illness.

Known to his family and friends as Jerry, he was the youngest of ten children. He was born on April 18, 1939 in Loup City, Nebraska, to Victor and Clara Grudzinski.

Jerry graduated from Ravenna, Nebraska High School in 1956 and joined the Marines shortly thereafter. Upon leaving the Marines, he joined the Air Force and served tours in Southeast Asia, Italy and the United States. Jerry retired from the Air Force in 1976 and thereupon went to work for the City of Rapid City, South Dakota. He retired from the City in 2001. While stationed at Randolph AFB in San Antonio, Jerry married Ruth Bueche and adopted her two children, Sheila and Justin. They had two more children Quinton and Kimberly. After their divorce, he was stationed in various other bases and while stationed at Ellsworth AFB in South Dakota, married Janet Stephens Lyons and became step-father to her three children: Keith, Richard, and Andrea.

In Rapid City, Jerry and Janet were active members of the First Wesleyan Church and have many friends in Rapid City. They moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico in 2002 where they have made many new friends.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Janet, brother Leonard Grudzinski and his wife Ruby, his sister Bertha, and his six children and their spouses: Sheila Andrews; Justin and Eva Grudzinski; Quinton and Debi Grudzinski; Kimberly and Matt Lucero; Keith and Joani Lyons; and Richard and Lizz Lyons. Also thirteen grandchildren: Chalona, Crispen, and Cameron Radtke; Shannon Samantha, Wendy and Todd Grudzinski; Kyle Grudzinski; Kassandra Lucero; Nicole Lyons; Abigail Lyons, Bryan and Shannon Hemme and one great-grandson Ty Radtke. Jerry will be greatly missed by his brothers-in-law, Vern and Dick Stephens, his sister-in-law Dona Hahn and many nieces and nephews. Jerry has made wonderful friends throughout his lifetime who share the loss of this wonderful man.

Jerry is preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, three sisters, and his daughter Andrea Lyons.

Memorial services will be held at the First Wesleyan Church, 302 St. Francis, Rapid City on Tuesday, July 19, 2005.

Arrangements by Kirk Funeral Home.


Bio Courtesy of *In memory of Scott*