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Jerome Taylor

Lead Summary

Jerome Charles “Jerry” Taylor, 94, Luverne, died Sunday, Aug. 9, 2015, at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne. 
A funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, at St. Adrian Catholic Church in Adrian. Burial with full military honors provided by the Adrian American Legion will be in the St. Adrian Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, at Dingmann Funeral Home in Luverne with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. Visitation will also be from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. Saturday at Dingmann Funeral Home in Adrian.
Jerome Taylor was born Jan. 7, 1921, to Bryan C. and Carolyn (Kraphl) Taylor in Adrian. He was raised on the family farm and graduated from St. Adrian High School in Adrian. In 1942 Jerry trained as a Navy pilot and was later commissioned into the Marine Corps. He was selected to be an instrument pilot instructor. He also flew transport planes to transport G.I.s to various islands in the Pacific theatre of the war. He was promoted to first lieutenant and later to captain and first pilot of his plane.
Following the war, Jerry married Lucille Morgan of Ellsworth. During his 52 years of farming, he received recognition for his stewardship of the land. He was twice awarded the outstanding soil conservation farmer by Nobles County. He served on the boards of the Pork Producers Association, the Cattlemen’s Association, the Adrian Elevator and the Farm Bureau. He and Lucille were also active in the local 4-H and Lions clubs. Jerry was recognized with the Lions Club International Melvin Jones Fellowship for his dedication to humanitarian service. In 1980 the University of Minnesota began The Farm Family Recognition Program, and Jerry and Lucille were the first family in Nobles County awarded the Minnesota Farm Family of the Year Award.
Jerry was a lifelong member of the Knights of Columbus and he served as an usher for many years at St. Adrian’s Catholic Church. In 2014 Jerry and Lucille were honored to receive the Bishop’s Medal. Following his retirement from farming Jerry served as hospice volunteer. Upon retirement, the couple moved to Luverne where they lived together until Jerry moved to the Minnesota Veterans Home.
Jerry is survived by nine children, Maureen (Walt) Gearino, Des Moines, Iowa, Beth Strootman, Andover, Mary Carole (Joel) Hornaman, Aberdeen, South Dakota, Tim (Deb) Taylor, Adrian, Dan (Suzanne) Taylor, Ypsilanti, Michigan, Kevin Taylor (Julie Jones), Ann Arbor, Michigan, Leisha Nebel-Taylor (widow of son John), Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Kate (Dennis) Johnson, Hendricks, Ann (Mark) Schumacher, Omaha, Nebraska, and Sara Taylor (Miguel Souffront), Woodbury; 31 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Lucille Taylor, on July 31, 2015; his parents; a son, John Taylor; a son-in-law Larry Strootman; three granddaughters, Christine Taylor, Catherine Taylor and Lucy Kate Johnson; four brothers, Earl Taylor, Lloyd “Paul” Taylor, Robert Taylor and Bryan C. Taylor; and three sisters-in-law, Beverly, Lorraine and Joan.
Memorials are preferred.
Arrangements are by Dingmann Funeral Home of Luverne, www.dingmannandsons.com.
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