Jerry Armstrong

Jerry Dean Armstrong, 74, went to be with his Lord and Savior Friday, July 17, 2009 while at home battling Leukemia. His wife and children were by his side. He was a resident of Altoona for 23 years. He was born July 7, 1935 in Creston, Iowa, the son of Beulah B. Armstrong and Arthur B. Smart. He graduated from St. Mary’s High School in 1954.
Jerry married Karen Sue Naylor in 1972 in Belton, MO where he was serving in the United States Air Force. Jerry retired from the USAF in 1984 having spent over 26 years service connected. He also served in the Army and Navy. He loved his country and was a decorated war veteran of Vietnam. Given a napkin and a pen, Jerry could dream, design, and build anything he set his mind to. Beyond his military career, he loved working with his hands and big machinery for his own pleasure on his land; building ponds, cutting down and burning trees, and planning for development of some kind. He was a great visionary. Jerry was a devoted husband, father, brother, and son-in-law.
Jerry was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in October of 2008 and was treated at MD Anderson Cancer Center where he developed complications from pneumonia and infections that he never totally recovered from. On April 1, 2009 he had major back surgery due to infection in his spine which he healed nicely from. He fought a courageous and heroic battle against his disease.
Jerry is preceded in death by his mother and father; his brothers: Grant, and Sam Smart, and William Armstrong; and his sister Betty Gibbons. He leaves behind his wife of 37 years, Karen of Altoona; his sons: Patrick and Shane of Altoona; his daughter Rebecca (Dann) Gould of MN; and step-son Richard (Michelle) Humphrey of NY; four grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his “sis” Cathy (Earl) Estell of Norwalk; sister Nancy Land of Omaha, NE; sister-in-law Alice (Don) Pearce of Houston, TX; brother-in-law Robert (Vicki) Naylor of Overland Park, KS; and brothers-in-law Ray C. Naylor of Altoona, and Wm. Paul Naylor of Woodstock, NY.
Visitation will be 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Thursday, July 23, 2009 at Hamilton's Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street. Services will be held at Grace Church at 11:00 a.m. Friday, July 24, 2009. Interment will be at St. Charles Cemetery following the service. Memorial contributions may be made to the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX, or the American Cancer Society.
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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