Gerald L "Jerry" Dome
Marriages
Betty Jane Herkert - September 19, 1943
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 4 A Obit - June 9, 2012
Jerry passed away in his home
on June 5, 2012, at 91.
Jerry was born on October 7,
1920, in Walker, Kansas to Adam
and Josephine Dome. His family
moved to Boulder, Colorado in a
new Model-T when he was six.
He attended Sacred Heart Elementary
School, Boulder High
School and the University of
Colorado College of Pharmacy. He graduated with a BS degree in
1942.
In September 1942, he enlisted in the Army Air Force and received
his commission as 2nd LT. at Yale University in July 1943.
While stationed at Peterson Field, Colorado Springs, he married
Betty Jane Herkert, daughter of Harry T. and Connie Herkert of
Boulder, on September 19, 1943. He attended Navigation school at
Selman Field in Monroe, Louisiana. He was assigned to the 447th
heavy bombardment group with the 8th Air Force in England. He
flew 35 missions over Germany as a navigator in the B-17's. He received
an Oak Leaf Cluster "for meritorious achievement while participating
in heavy bombardment missions…" After his tour of duty
he was stationed at Ellington Field Texas where he worked as a
pharmacist until his discharge September 1945.
He returned to Colorado and worked in the Fort Collins Drug Store
before purchasing the Colorado Blvd Drug store in Denver. In 1949
he and Betty moved to Montrose, where they happily spent the rest
of their lives. He purchased the Busy Corner Pharmacy in the Missouri
Building at 347 E. Main Street. He owned and operated the
Pharmacy until selling the business in 1974. He opened the Dome
Hallmark store at that same location where he and Betty worked until
retiring in 1982.
Jerry was devoted to his wife, family, church and community and
tirelessly served all.
He contributed to many Montrose community agencies and among
those were Director of the Chamber of Commerce; Director of Tri
County Water Conserving District; Director of Montrose Industrial
Development; Director of Downtown Improvement District; President
of the Western Slope Pharmaceutical Association; Member of
University of Colorado School of Pharmacy Advisory Board;
Chairman of the Red Cross for 6 years; helped develop the Walking
Blood Bank for Montrose Memorial Hospital, and was consultant
for the Hospital Pharmacy.
He was an active member of St. Mary's Catholic Parrish from 1949
until his death. His services to the Church were extensive. He was
President of the Parrish council for four years and a member for ten
years. He sat on the Finance committee for over 25 years, and in
1967, he was a recipient of Pax Semper Et Caritas from Bishop
Busswell of Pueblo for services to the Church. He was a Grand
Knight of Knights of Columbus and a member since 1944; a member
of the Pueblo Diocesan Liturgical Commission Committee; a
Eucharistic Minister since 1977, a Stevens Minister and Lector; and
after Betty's death, became a Benedictine Oblate.
Jerry loved the outdoors. He hunted, fished, skied, and drove all the
trails his jeep could climb. He was an adventurer.
He raised four daughters in Montrose who all survive him, Judith
A. Dome, Denver CO; Nancy G. Fischer, Spokane WA; Carol
Dome LaDucer (Jack) Winters, CA; Coni Hommerding (Mike)
Rathdrum, ID; along with his grandchildren, Erik L. Fischer, Colorado
Springs, CO; Kristin Black (Vance) Spokane WA; Sarah Alderman
(Vance) Coeur d' Alene, ID, and Rachel Zimick, Seattle
WA.
Gerald is preceded in death by his parents, Josephine and Adam
Dome; his two sisters, Geraldine Mary Dome and Mary Ann
Schmitz, and his beloved wife, Betty Jane Dome in 1993.
We cannot find words to express our great love for and loss of our
father and grandfather. No one was dearer.
Donations can be made to Sharing Ministries in Gerald L. Dome's
name.
Viewing will be on Sunday at Crippin Funeral Home. The funeral
Mass will be at St. Mary's Catholic Church on Monday, the 11th at
1:00 p.m.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of Crippin Funeral
Home, 802 E. Main St., Montrose, CO 81401.
