Jerry Awbrey

Jerry Awbrey, 80, died peacefully with his family by his side on January 22, 2024, after a 17-year battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. 

Jerry was born May 6, 1943, to Allen and Alberta Awbrey in Muscatine, IA. He had 5 siblings.  He graduated in the Class of 1961 from Muscatine High School. It was there he met the love of his life, Dee Dee Longhurst.  Jerry joined the Naval Reserves while attending high school and entered active duty in 1962, deployed on the USS Albany CG-10.   While on leave he married Dee Dee on June 6, 1964.  They settled in Davenport, Iowa where they built a wonderful family.  Together they had 5 beautiful daughters.  He took immense pride in his role as a girl dad, giving countless hugs and encouragement to the end. Jerry will be remembered for his contagious laugh and unforgettable sense of humor. He had a lifelong love of country music and some of his favorite moments were performing with friends in the Old Farts Band. He was an avid athlete. He coached many winning Dad’s Club teams over the years for his daughters and their friends. He and Dee Dee loved camping every weekend with their family and friends for over 30 years, establishing Jerry and Dave’s Beer Garden Friends. He cherished his annual summer vacations fishing at Ojibway Resort on Pikes Bay in Cass Lake, MN.   Jerry retired from his beloved job at the Rock Island Arsenal in 2004.  His family and colleagues will never forget his stories about the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. His greatest achievements were his wife of nearly 60 years, 5 daughters, 13 grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Dee Dee, and their daughters: Tammy (Jason) Tucker, Rockwall, Texas, Tina (Jim) Hoefer, Davenport, Iowa, Tancy (Vern) Lukehart, Clive, Iowa, Tara (Andy) Erpelding, Davenport, Iowa, Terrie (Ed) Stald, Shiloh, Illinois; Grandchildren: Tia (Kendall) Henson, Taren (Chase) Bowen, Aubrey (Logan) Vinklarek, Anna (Kelton) Morrow, Nick Hoefer, Maddy (Zane Grell) Hoefer, MacKenzie (Tyler) Engelhardt, Trey Lukehart, Jack Lukehart, Will Erpelding, Baylie Stald, Grant Stald.  Great-Grandchildren: Wyatt, Willa, Harper, Hudson, Hadlee, Jack, Knox, and Sutton.  Siblings: twin sister Judy (Art) Jansen, Dale (Cora) Awbrey, Sue (Mike) Lowe. Several nieces and nephews, and many life-long friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, infant twin sons, brother Dave Awbrey, sister-in-law Karen Awbrey, sister Jane Awbrey, and his beautiful granddaughter, Charly Erpelding.

A special thank you to the staff at Jersey Ridge Place in Davenport and the VA Cottage and hospice unit in Des Moines for the wonderful care they provided him in his final years of life. 

Visitation will be held at Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home in Davenport, Iowa on Monday, January 29th from 4:00pm to 7:00pm with rosary prayed at 6:45 p.m.  There will be an additional visitation at church on Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the Mass. The Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Bettendorf, Iowa on Tuesday, January 30th at 10:30 a.m. The Mass will be livestreamed by visiting St. John Vianney - Livestream  His grandsons will serve as pallbearers.  Jerry will be laid to rest at the Rock Island National Cemetery, Arsenal Island with military honors.

Memorials may be made to the Give Like Charly Scholarship Fund. A foundation established in memory of his courageous granddaughter, to assist students in the community with college expenses.

Give Like Charly Scholarship Fund

c/o Quad Cities Community Foundation

852 Middle Road, Suite 100

Bettendorf, Iowa 52722