Jerry Lee Tierrney 1941-2011

TIERNEY SATTERLEE SCHLEIS

Posted By: Connie J Swearingen (email)
Date: 4/20/2012 at 13:34:45

Sioux City Journal
8 July 2011

MAPLETON, Iowa -- Jerry Lee Tierney, 70, of Mapleton, died Tuesday, July 5, 2011, at home with his family by his side after a battle with cancer.

Services will be 9:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Mapleton, with the Rev. Brian Danner officiating. Interment will be in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, with military rites conducted by the American Legion Loren Hollister Post 496 of Mapleton. Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. today, with the prayer service at 7 p.m., at Armstrong Funeral Home in Mapleton. Visitation will resume at 9 a.m. until the service time Saturday at St. Mary's Catholic Church.

Jerry Lee Tierney was born Feb. 4, 1941, in Norfolk, Neb., to Francis and Willesene (Satterlee) Tierney.

He married Sharon Schleis on July 13, 1962, at Lake Manawa, Iowa. Jerry joined the U.S. Army in 1959, and he served his country during the Vietnam War with the First Infantry Division. During a seven-hour battle and under heavy fire, Jerry disregarded his personal safety by running across an open field to retrieve the much needed ammunition for his squad. For this action, Jerry was awarded with the Bronze Star with Valor and the Purple Heart. He was stationed in Missouri, Alaska, Colorado, Kansas, and Germany before receiving his honorable discharge in 1970. Jerry and Sharon moved their family to Omaha and in 1976, they settled in Mapleton. Jerry worked at various places in the Mapleton area, including as a sergeant first class with the National Guard Mapleton Armory and first sergeant in the National Guard at the Denison Armory. He was very patriotic and loved his country.

After retiring, Jerry enjoyed fishing, camping, and visiting his children and grandchildren.

Those left with cherished memories are his wife of nearly 49 years, Sharon; one daughter, Christine (Scott) Peters of Omaha; four sons, Jerry (Angela) of Canon City, Colo., Jeffrey (Liana) of Waunakee, Wis., James (Carol) of Grandview, Mo., and Daniel (Laurie) of Farmersburg, Ind.; his grandchildren, Krystena (Brandon) Beiermann, Jason (Angela), Timothy (Jessica), and Adam Cook, Derek (Molly), Michael, Jessica, and Dalton Tierney and Michael Briggs, Michala and Matthew Tierney, Kyle Tierney, and Mason, Darby, Simon, and Lexi Tierney; his great-grandchildren, Taylor, Brandi, Jayden, Lauren, Kaitlyn, Jalynne, and Aiden; three sisters, Mona Lindsay and Joy (William) Bade, both of Omaha, and Beverly Polston of Niobrara, Neb.; his brother-in-law, Thomas (Judy) Schleis of Fremont, Neb.; longtime friend and brother-in-arms, Henry Starkel of Mapleton; and many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

Jerry is preceded in death by a son, Anthony; a grandson, Tyler Cook; his parents; and siblings, Violet, Doris, Marian, Francis, Alice Mae, Thomas, Jack, Georgia, and Larry.