Jerry D Bilstein, 88, of Mitchell passed away March 24, 2020 at his home. A memorial service will be held in Alliance at a later date and inurnment will follow at the Alliance Cemetery.
Jerry was born August 24, 1931 in Alliance to Richard and Bessie (Dasher) Bilstein, the youngest of nine children. He attended school in Alliance graduating in 1950. He worked for the C,B, & Q Railroad in Lincoln, NE as a boilermaker assistant until 1951. He served three years in the US Marine Corps during the Korean War. He returned to Alliance in 1953, and went to work as a civil engineer for the Burlington Northern Railroadwhere he remained until he retired in 1986.
He became a dad to Janelle and Michelle when he married their mother, Sharon Helm in Scottsbluff, NE in 1968. The family was completed with the birth of Jeanette in 1969. Although they divorced in 1989, they remained close friends.
Many young people came to know him as “dad” over the years as he was always providing rides, hugs or a place to sleep for his daughters’ friends. His grandchildren were his pride and joy. He took great joy in taking trips to the zoo, walking in nature and going to the train yards with all of them as youngsters. As they grew, he enjoyed attending their many school and sporting events.
He will be missed by former wife, Sharon of Gering; daughters,Janelle (Mark) Schultz and Michelle (John) Powell all of Scottsbluff, and Jeanette (Kyle Nichols) of Mitchell; grandchildren, Brittany (Spencer) Meyer, Kortany (Alex) McCauley, Justin Powell, Jeremy (Ali) Powell, Cierra (Shawn)Nagel, and Austyn (Marcus) Marshall; great-grandchildren, Legend and Epic Marshall, Andilyn McCauley, Trumynn Nagel,and Baby Meyer due in April. He is also survived by special friend Kenny Stiver, and many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by parents, Richard and Bessie Bilstein;brothers, Richard (Opal), Ellsworth (Charlene), Robert (Ruth), and Charles (Mary); sisters, Mildred (Fay), Bessie, Bernice(Berle), and Devona; and many nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to the Scottsbluff Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or Festival of Hope. Online condolences may be made by viewing Jerry’s memorial page at www.bridgmanfuneralhome.com.
