Jerald Dean Simons was born in Marysville, ID on February 6, 1924, the first child of Melvina and Dean Simons. His brothers were Lee and Clyle, his sisters were Wilda and Narlene. His childhood was spent primarily in St. Anthony, ID. Jerry was a common man with great, uncommon attributes. Throughout his life he enjoyed living. Life was fun. He is one of the few men in the world who did everything he wanted to do from the time he was a teenager until his passing.

As a youth he cut wood, herded cattle, fought forest fires, fished, camped, and hunted game. He did those things that people dream of.
As war took over the nation, he left school in 1943 and became a sailor, serving on the ship USS Mercy in the South Pacific. He was only about 19 years old, but he served honorably and with distinction helping the wounded and the ailing in the time of their great distress.
After the war, he went back to Idaho and took up where he left off living a life of adventure. Needing a skill, he heard through his brother-in-law that Alaska needed carpenters, so off to the north he went.

When he went home to Idaho for Christmas in 1947, he met Marian Sylvia Vogelsang. They were married March 1, 1948 and returned to Alaska. They shared their adventures for over 70 years. During his time in Alaska Jerry was an enthusiastic hunter of moose, sheep, mountain goats, caribou and bear, as well as an avid fisherman.

Upon arriving in Alaska with his wife they lived in a quite simple "house" built from used packing crates. He walked to work across Ship Creek to Elmendorf AFB where he was building military housing. He occasionally brought salmon home from work for dinner that he caught in Ship Creek. As time went on, he and Marian had three children: Sandra Jane, Jimmy Lee, and William Dean, who grew to be upright citizens based on the example that he and Marian set for them.

Upon retiring from being a carpenter he became a traveler. He and Marian bought a motorhome and went touring around the country. In the next 20 years they visited every state in the USA as well as all the provinces in Canada, and a few forays into Mexico. They also toured and visited most of the major cities on the east and west coasts during this time. They spent the winters at Bullhead City and later at Viewpoint Golf Resort in Mesa AZ. His was a great life, well-lived, being an example to everybody that he met.

During his later years they lived in a retirement village in Nampa ID where he was sought after as a fishing and golfing partner. He spent many years of his retired life playing golf, fishing, and doing some hunting. He drove a car up until he was 95.

In September 2018 he and Marian moved to Jacksonville OR where they lived a short distance from their son Jim in an assisted-living home. He and Marian were known for their gentle manners and positive outlook on life. Throughout their lives Jerry and Marian's children and grandchildren loved to spend time with them and share their adventures.

On August 10, 2020 his beloved wife, Marian passed away at the age of 92. Jerald passed away at age 97 on Father's Day, June 20, 2021. He never aspired to great things. He just wanted to be a good man, and, in the end, he was better than that… he was a great man, loved by many and missed by everyone who knew him. We will all have fond memories of him for the rest of our lives.
He is survived by his sister Wilda Kamahoa, three children, and 7 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Graveside service will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 27, at the Ashton Pineview Cemetery.