Jerry Weston Trudell
Obituaries
Daily Sentinel page 4D - December 6, 2020
Jerry was one of the most
celebrated, respected, and
honored citizens of Montrose in
the past 60 years.
Along with his beloved wife,
JoAnn, of 56 years, they raised
their blended families of six
children and forged a successful
business through grit and hard
work. Jerry was raised on a ranch in eastern Montana on the banks
of the Missouri River, near Fairview. Knowing the ranching life was
not for him, he left home at 16 after graduating high school. Jerry
had always been mechanically inclined and served in the US Army
as a Mechanic at the close of the Korean war and was stationed in
Germany. After his honorable discharge from the Army, Jerry met
and married Nancie L. Ross.
Together they had four children, Ray, Kim, Bill, and Laura
(Annie). They subsequently divorced in 1962. In 1963, Jerry and
JoAnn reconnected. She was a childhood friend who had been
widowed at the age of 26 and had two young children, Judy and
Brian Wilson; in 1964 they were married in Montrose. Their small
family grew to eight when Ray, Kim, Bill, and Laura came to live
with them in 1968. Their “Brady Bunch” family managed to thrive
in their small three-bedroom house through their combined efforts
as drill sergeant, referee, nurse, chef, and teacher.
Jerry was known to everyone as a man of many talents! He was
most likely the original “MacGyver” as he never met a problem he
could not solve! He holds engineer patents for his stacking trailer
and has countless other creations that he manufactured in his shop,
most notably his pontoon boat that was always under some type
of upgrade. Even at the young age of 88, Jerry had enough plans
for the future that would have kept him busy for the next 20 years.
He was always full of ideas of how things could be made better
whether the subject was construction projects, hunting and fishing,
real estate, government, or relationships. Jerry loved to work; it
gave him purpose and pleasure of accomplishment.
Early in their marriage, Jerry began working at O’Dunlap &
Son Trucking as a mechanic. Years later he began working for
Schneider’s Ready Mix. He bought Schneider’s and branded it as
Western Gravel and turned that business into one of the premier
construction companies in Colorado. Jerry was still working there
five days a week when he fell ill on November 12, 2020.
Jerry was very civic minded, along with JoAnn, they worked
hand-in-hand to selflessly devote their lives to the city of Montrose
with civic donations in materials, time, and financial contributions.
Jerry and JoAnn have always lived their lives believing that everyone
deserves a second chance. Jerry showed it in many ways, and most
notably as he gave many inmates in work-release programs a job
and second chance. Jerry was a big believer in a “hand up, not a
handout.” Additionally, he was always willing to give fatherly
advice (or… a not so fatherly “Ass Chewing”) to help folks stay
on the right track. No job or task was too small for him to teach!
Whether it was the proper use of a broom, welding, or using a tape
measure correctly (there is a difference in 1/8 and a 1/16, you better
remember that it makes a difference!). A person might even get
fired twice in the same week. Those that endured his mentorship
were always richer for his leadership. There was only one way to do
something right, and that was the “Right Way,” and Jerry was often
most sure he knew what way that was!
Along with his strong work ethic, Jerry had many recreational
hobbies he enjoyed. He was an avid hunter and fishermen and
traveled the globe on many expeditions. He was the consummate
local hunting guide. Many children, grandchildren, friends, and
friends of friends, considered hunting with Jerry a rite of passage and
a bucket list activity. One of his greatest joys was helping someone
bag their first elk! Jerry made sure the entire family learned to ski,
hunt, fish, shoot a bow, camp, and use a rifle or pistol properly. Jerry
was also an avid competitive bowler offering lessons whether you
wanted them or not. He carried a 185 average until this past year
when he suffered a shoulder injury. Not to be deterred, classic Jerry
style, he taught himself to bowl left-handed and this past month,
and bowled over 200!
Many a summer weekend was spent going camping in an old
short body Scout with everything piled on top for a full four days.
Each trip began just as soon as Jerry came home from work. JoAnn
was in charge of the troops (six kids and a dog) while also preparing
all the food and supplies, requiring an amazing amount of effort.
Making those adventures possible provided so many life skills
amidst these fun family days, whether you wanted them or not!
If not camping, hunting or fishing, it was probable that you would
find Jerry and JoAnn in their motor home traveling throughout
the United States or at the Norsk Hostfest in Minot, North Dakota
every fall. This festival celebrates the Scandinavian roots he and
JoAnn share. In recent years, this tradition included many children
and grandchildren in attendance.
Jerry was a man who never looked back, he kept his eye on the
future, and was always looking for the next project or adventure
to take. He was proud of his family, his work, his business, his
community. His greatest legacy was his belief and practice of love,
generosity, hard work, decency, fairness, an honest day’s work,
and embracing those in need. If you were lucky enough to know
Jerry and you happened to be in a restaurant at the same time
he was, you often found that when you went to pay your bill, it
had already been mysteriously paid. It was one of his trademark
gestures of generosity, and he did this hundreds and hundreds of
times throughout his lifetime.
Jerry is preceded in death by his mom and dad; two brothers; two
sons, and three grandchildren. He is survived by JoAnn, his bride of
more than 56 years. She along with family, children, grandchildren,
great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, brothers, sisters, and friends
will miss the loving, kind, selfless, generous, man Jerry was. His
legacy will always live on through our collective will to generously
give back to the world and carry on in spite of whatever difficulties
we face.
Open Air Celebration of life for friends and family at Western
Gravel in Montrose, Tuesday, December 8, 1:00 p.m., Masks Please.
We will attempt live streaming of the Celebration of Life via
Facebook from the account of “JoAnn Trudell”.
In lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions can be made via:
gofundme.com/f/Jerry-Trudell
Crippin Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
