Jerry Peeke, 90

Gerald (Jerry) Lee Peeke, age 90, of LaGrande, Oregon and a longtime former Sturgis resident, passed away peacefully Thursday, September 23, 2021 at Grande Ronde Retirement Residence in La Grande, after suffering a short battle with pneumonia and COVID-19.
Jerry was born on July 15, 1931 in Sturgis, the first child of John and Roma (Ziglear) Peeke.
He attended Sturgis Public Schools and graduated from Sturgis High School in 1949. After high school he served as a corporal in the US Army until 1951. After leaving the army he went to work for the National Carbon Coated Paper Company and later worked for several other Sturgis printing companies including Brubaker Printing, Telemark Corporation and LTI Printing as well as Kal Forms of Kalamazoo.
Jerry married Arlene Lois Young on June 22, 1957 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sturgis. In 1960 their first son, Kevin Lee was born and their second son, Cory William, was born in 1968. Jerry was a devoted husband and father and incredibly hard worker. In addition to his daytime printing job he often worked several part time jobs throughout much of his life most notably as projectionist at the Strand Theater in Sturgis. He worked for the Strand for 58 years beginning in 1955.
Jerry was a talented amateur photographer who loved movies and working with his hands on a variety of home improvement and wood working projects. He was a gentle soul who had a deep affection for the dogs in his life. He will be greatly missed by the many whose lives he touched.
He is survived by his son Cory, daughter-in-law Holley (Embler Peeke) Kershaw and numerous nieces and nephews.
Jerry was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, his in-laws William and Grace Young, his brother Dale and his son Kevin.
In accordance with his wishes cremation has taken place. A graveside service and burial of the ashes will take place at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Sturgis at a later date to be announced.
The Hackman Family Funeral Homes of Sturgis is entrusted with the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in his memory to ASPCA P.O. Box 96929, Washington, DC 20090 or the American Heart Association, 3816 Paysphere Circle, Chicago, IL 60674.
The obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhomes.com where we encourage relatives and friends to share memories and leave condolences for the family.