Gerald Woolsey

Memorial Services have been rescheduled for March 20 at 11:00 am.

Gerald “Jerry” Lavern Woolsey, age 81, Chappell, NE, was called by his Heavenly Father on Monday afternoon, February 8, 2021.  He died peacefully at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff, NE from complications of COVID-19 with his wife, Alice, by his side. 

Per his wishes, cremation has been performed.  A celebration of Jerry’s life will be held at the Chappell United Methodist Church on Saturday, March 20, 2021, at 11:00 am with Pastor Ceciliah Iqwata officiating.

Holechek-Bondegard Funeral Home and Cremations is serving the Woolsey family.

Services will be recorded and available for viewing on the Holechek-Bondegard Funeral Home Facebook page. (https://www.facebook.com/hbfunerals)

Family and friends can leave condolences at www.bondegardfunerals.com..

 Inurnment will be in the Oregon Trail Cemetery in Bridgeport, NE at a later date.

 Memorials in Jerry’s name can be made to the Chappell Volunteer Fire and Rescue or the Chappell United Methodist Church.

Jerry was born in Bridgeport, NE on April 11, 1939, to Woodrow “Bus” and Helen M. (Bauer) Woolsey. He graduated from Bridgeport High School in 1957 and lettered in football, basketball and track, participated in class plays and played trumpet with the marching band.  He was active in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts attaining Eagle Scout and was tapped into the Order of the Arrow at Laramie Peak Scout Camp.

After graduation, he worked for various natural gas companies in Scottsbluff, NE; Atlanta, GA; Glenwood Springs, CO and Craig, CO.  In Scottsbluff, he played with Bob Grassmick and the Sundowners country band for seven years.  He was also active in the Fire Department, was a member of the rescue squad with training in underwater recovery and taught the use of Resusci-Anne. 

Jerry enjoyed hunting, fishing, shooting, reloading shells and the outdoors.  After taking night classes on photography, he set up his own darkroom and enlarged and framed his own photographs.

On August 10, 1958, he was united in marriage to Karen Johnson in Scottsbluff, NE and they were blessed with two precious, beautiful daughters, Susan and Jeri.  He then married Delores Higdon in 1972 in Georgia.  On October 16, 1976, he was united in marriage to Alice (Payne) Younglund in Golden, CO.  They were happily married for 44 years.

After leaving the gas company in Craig, CO, he pursued his dream of taking big game hunters, including disabled adults, into the high country.  J&J Guides and Outfitters was established and later Access Outfitters to give disabled kids the opportunity to enjoy horseback riding.  During this period, he was appointed to and served seven years on the State Board of the Office of Outfitter Registration.

They moved to Chappell in 1995 to be closer to their families.  They were therapeutic foster parents for five years and later were caregivers for their mothers.  They always had a big garden and enjoyed canning food together for the winter and sharing with family and friends. Jerry helped various farmers/ranchers and was County Weed Superintendent until he retired.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Alice; daughter, Susan and husband Greg Allmaras and his daughter Shawnda Allmaras; daughter, Jeri Shilling; grandsons, Christopher (Samantha) Polito and Trevor Newman; great-grandchildren, Carter Polito and Claire Polito, all of Arizona; sister, Marilyn Cantrell of Scottsbluff, NE; brother, Robert (Terri) Woolsey of Oberlin, KS; brothers-in-law, Robert (Melva) Payne of Las Vegas, NV;  Ronald (Cindy) Payne of Sidney, NE and Fred (Vickie) Jensen of Julesburg, CO; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, W.W. “Bus” and Helen M. (Bauer) Woolsey; sister and brother-in-law, Shirley and John Klatt; sister-in-law, Carolyn (Payne) Jensen; and grandparents, Ulysses Grant and Edna (Shoemaker) Woolsey, and Martin and Emma (Robertus) Bauer.