Jerry Yeager

Jerry Lee Yeager, retired United States Air Force fighter pilot, died at his residence in Hastings, Nebraska on April 22, 2017, at the age of 84 years with wife, children and loyal dog Scampy by his side.

Services with full military honors will be Thursday, April 27, 2017; 10:30 A.M. at Butler Volland Chapel, Hastings with Pastor Mel Johnson officiating. Burial will be in Parkview Cemetery, Hastings. Memorials may be given to Hastings Veterans Organizations Burial Detail, Disabled American Veterans Club, and Hastings High School. Visitation will be Wednesday, April 26, 2017; 6:00 - 8:00 P.M. with family present at Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home in Hastings, Nebraska.

Jerry was the son of Doris Ann Downing and Henry Yeager. He was born on September 12, 1932 in Hastings, Nebraska. He attended school in Hastings and graduated from the University of Nebraska. He played football at the University of Nebraska from 1950-1953 under the leadership of Coach Bill Glassford. On May 16, 1953, Jerry married his high school sweetheart Delores Irene Hopp in Hastings, Nebraska. Following graduation from the university with a BS Degree in Agriculture and his 2nd Lt Commission received through the AFROTC program; he entered primary flying training at Bartow AFB, Florida.

Upon completion of basic training at Webb AFB, Texas in May 1956 he entered F-86D training at Perrin AFB, Texas and was subsequently assigned to the Air Defense Command at Sioux City, Iowa. He moved with the 13th FIS to Glasgow AFB, Montana in mid-1959 when the unit converted to F-101Bs.

In 1963 Jerry was assigned to the 29th Air Division at Richards Gebaur, Missouri as a staff operation officer. In January 1964 he served six months with the 13th Air Force, Clark Air Base Philippines as an operations officer and then returned to ACSC. Following ACSC he entered F-4 RTU training at George AFB, California. He was assigned to the 12th TFW at Cam Rahn Bay, Vietnam from December 1966 to October 1967. During his Southeast Asia tour he flew 206 combat missions in the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom jet. It was a plane that was to become almost a part of him.

His next assignment was to George AFB as an instructor pilot in the RTU. In 1969 he became the Chief of Academics, a position he held until assignment to the Air War College in Maxwell AFB, Alabama, in July 1971.

Following Air War College and receiving his master's degree at Troy State University, he served in HQs Air South (NATO), as an air defense officer. In 1974 he was assigned to the Plans Directorate and was a principle planner and negotiator in the NATO/US external forces basing for Italy, Greece, and Turkey.

In November 1975 he was assigned to HQs TAC as the Assistant Director of Programs and became the Director of Programs in March 1977. In this capacity he worked TAF forces programs including forward basing initiatives in both USAFE and PACAF.

Colonel Yeager was a Command Pilot with over 4400 hours of flying time in a variety of aircraft including the T-33, F-86D, F-101B and F-4. His awards and decorations include the Silver Star, 2 Legions of Merit, 2 Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, 14 Air Medals, a Meritorious Service Medal, and the Air Force Commendation Medal. He retired from the Air Force in 1980 and returned to Hastings to care for his aging parents. Jerry managed the Hastings Municipal Airport in 1986 through 1997. He was an active member of the VFW, DAV, American Legion, Eagles, Elks, Masonic Temple, and Red River Rats.

Jerry is preceded in death by his wife Delores, sister-in-law Beth, and grandson Mark.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Nelda Bonsack and his four children: Pamela (Rex) Petterborg of Gilbert, Arizona, Sally (J.R.) Connell of Lincoln, Nebraska, George (Tricia) Yeager of Poquson, Virgina, and Alice Yeager of Knoxville, Tennessee; 17 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren; brother Robert (Beth) of Valentine, Nebraska and sister Sadie (Jack) Borland of Lincoln, Nebraska, 2 step-children, 2 step-grandchildren and 1 step-great-grandchild