Gerald "Jerry" Samuel Hoekstra

Gerald Samuel Hoekstra (Jerry), age 74 of Bellevue, Nebraska, formerly of Placerville, California, passed away on December 31, 2021 at his home in Bellevue, Nebraska after battling ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease since 2015.

Jerry was born on February 23, 1947, in Renton, Washington, to Gerard and Hattie (Santjer) Hoekstra. He attended schools in Washington and California. He received his Associates of Science from De Anza College in Cupertino, California, and Master's in Theology from Christian Life School of Theology. Jerry served in the United States Army attaining the rank of SP5 E5 and was a communications specialist and taught at the Radio Signal School at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, prior to being deployed to the Vietnam. He received an Honorable Discharge in April 1971. He later worked as an Electronics Engineer in the Defense Electronics field.

He was married to Twila Mae Hurd 1968-1974. He later married Carol Claudia Noble in 1976, and they enjoyed 45 years of marriage.

Jerry was a member of several churches and served as Royal Ranger Teacher, Adult Sunday School Teacher, and Church Board member. At one point in his life, he built a Camaro race car and raced in the SCCA circuit. He enjoyed car racing, traveling (especially to Hawaii, Lake Tahoe and Carmel, California), landscaping, working on cars, family gatherings and hanging out with friends.

He is survived by his wife Carol Hoekstra of Bellevue, Nebraska; four sons, Shawn Hoekstra of San Jose, California, Christopher Hoekstra of Bellevue, Nebraska, Jeffrey Hoekstra of Citrus Heights, California and Jonathan Hoekstra of North Hollywood, California, and their wives, Brooke Thornhill Hoekstra, Damaris Escobar Hoekstra, Melissa Thompson Hoekstra and Kristina Vardazaryan Hoekstra. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Dereck and Jacob Hoekstra of San Jose, California; Kylie, Adalyn and Nolan Hoekstra of Bellevue, Nebraska; Zachary, Katelyn and Tyler Hoekstra of Citrus Heights; and Amelia Hoekstra, of North Hollywood, California. Jerry is also survived by his sister, Esther Wiens and her husband Larry Wiens of Danville, California, and a many nieces and nephews, cousins and aunts and uncles throughout the country. He is preceded in death by his parents Gerard and Hattie Hoekstra, his sister Shirley Hoekstra Mellor, and his brother Wesley Fulton Hoekstra.

From his wife Carol: As my turn ends here on earth with being with my best friend, the father of our children, the keeper of my heart, soul mate and love of my life, I release him to Father God to start his new season of life in heaven, and I look forward with anticipation of seeing him in heaven when it is my turn.



VISITATION Friday, January 14, from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. with CELEBRATION OF LIFE at 12:00 p.m. at Good Shepherd Funeral Home (4712 So 82nd St). Interment at Omaha National Cemetery.