Gerald “Jerry” Lawrence Herman, 90, of Rock Island, passed away on Tuesday, October 30, 2018 at the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf. A Requiem Mass will be 10 am Saturday at Trinity Anglican Church, Rock Island. Visitation will be from 4-6 pm Friday at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, Rock Island.
Burial will be at Chippiannock Cemetery, Rock Island. Memorials may be made in care of Trinity Anglican Church. Jerry was born in Rock Island on December 3, 1927, a son of Harry R. and Kathryn L. Asa Herman.
He grew up enjoying fishing trips with his parents in Minnesota. Jerry graduated from Rock Island High School where he was captain of the varsity football team and met his wife, Shirley Enyeart Lowman. They married June 16, 1948 and had two children, Jerilyn and Timothy.
Jerry worked in the administrative offices at International Harvester Farmall Works for 39 years. He had a love for music stemming from his high school days. Jerry was a member of the Local 17 American Federation of Musicians and played the saxophone and clarinet in local band jazz orchestras, performing locally, around the states of Illinois, Iowa and Missouri.
He eventually had a very successful big band of his own named, “The Jerry Herman Orchestra,” in the late 50’s and early 60’s. Jerry and Shirley had a number of close friends with Les Brown and his Band of Renown traveling to attend their performances whenever the band was within a day’s drive. After retiring, Jerry loved to spend time traveling with his wife throughout the US and Europe, visiting his beloved children and grandchildren who brought him so much joy, and exploring his artistic talent.
He was an incredibly talented watercolor artist, participating in numerous art shows around the area and receiving great accolades as a part of a Quad City arts organization called, The Left Bank Art League. Jerry and Shirley became members of former Trinity Episcopal Church, Rock Island, in the 1970’s, where Jerry was an acolyte for years. Ministry through the church was very important to them both, and they enjoyed getting involved and hosting small group sessions in their home.
In fact, Jerry served on the St. Francis Society, Confraternity of Blessed Sacrament and was former senior warden of the vestry. The church is now known as, Trinity Anglican Church. Jerry and Shirley loved to take walks together, especially enjoying wildlife and the changing leaves during the fall.
They also greatly enjoyed photography and capturing their favorite moments on film. Jerry also volunteered as a driver for Meals on Wheels. Those left to cherish his memory include his son, Timothy (Ellen) Herman, Nashville, Tenn; son-in-law, Kenneth DuBeau, Batavia, Ill.
; grandchildren, Eileen (Scott) Kesner, Dallas, TX, Michael Herman, Nashville, Tenn. , Benjamin DuBeau, Batavia, Ill. , Andrew (Laura) Herman of Ridgway, CO, Abby DuBeau, Batavia, Ill.
and Christopher Herman, Nashville, Tenn. ; and great-grandson, Jayden. He was preceded in death by his parents, beloved wife of 70 years, Shirley and his daughter, Jerilyn Herman DuBeau.
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