OBITUARY FROM DIGNITY MEMORIAL WEBSITE:

Jerry Tidwell, long time resident of Evergreen, Colorado passed away in Golden, Colorado on June 18, 2024, after a 3+ year battle with cancer he was 73. Jerry was born in Lumberton, North Carolina, and was the son of Lester Burlon Tidwell and Lois Alice Tidwell. Jerry was the second oldest of his siblings, Linda, Donald, Rick, Randy, Tim, and Debbie.

Jerry grew up in Hobart Indiana and graduated from Hobart High School where he was active in school and being a “Brickie” playing baseball, football, and wrestling. He enjoyed socializing, spending time with his friends and sharing their love of motorcycles and cars. Jerry graduated in 1970 and went to work at Northern Indiana Public Service and started the Lineman apprenticeship program. Four years later, Jerry became a Journeyman Lineman and started a lifelong career as a lineman, foreman, and supervisor working on underground and overhead power lines. He loved to talk about working out of state on storm calls and climbing tall transmission lines. However, this is no surprise to those who knew him, Jerry loved challenges.

Jerry married his first wife Jeane (Zenake) De Stasio in 1972. Jerry, at the age of twenty-one built their first home in Valparaiso Indiana, and their first daughter, Jayme was born in 1974 and in 1978, the two welcomed their second daughter, Jeanelle. Jerry developed the want for something different and in 1978, they moved to Colorado. Jerry went to work for the Public Service Company of Colorado (Xcel Energy) in Evergreen, Colorado and in 1979 their third daughter Jillian was born.

Jerry continued to live in Evergreen, working, enjoying the outdoors, and being involved with the Evergreen Rodeo, running the roping club, and working on his dance moves. In January 1984, he met his wife Violet (Marble) and her mother Virginia. Violet had no interest; however, Jerry was determined to win her over and asked “mom” to dance. With his two step moves and with a little encouragement from mom, Jerry and Violet had their first dance, and he got her phone number. Their first date was to the National Western Stock show four days later and in July Violet moved to Evergreen.

Jerry and Violet enjoyed spending time with the girls, boating, going to school and sports events, snowmobiling, vacations, and road trips visiting relatives and on August 19, 1989, they were married in Evergreen. Their first son, Jerrett was born in 1993, and in 1996 they started building their new home in Evergreen. Their youngest daughter Julianna was born in 1997 and the family moved into their home in the fall.

Jerry continued to work in the line field until 2005 when Jerry and Violet purchased Evergreen Septic Pumping. Throughout the next eighteen years Jerry liked getting to know his septic clients, spending time educating and teaching them about their systems and best practices. The clients too enjoyed Jerry and were disappointed when Jerry was not coming to their job. Jerry liked the septic business, and he was truly knowledgeable as he was a consultant, inspector, installer, and a pumper.

In March 2021, Jerry was to receive hip replacement surgery; however, it was cancelled due to a malignant tumor at the base of his esophagitis and stomach. Jerry underwent chemotherapy and radiation, until he was cleared for surgery in October of 2021. The surgery was successful, and he was cancer free. Unexpectedly in January 2022, it was discovered that the cancer was progressing and had spread into his stomach. Jerry was determined to beat the cancer and started immunotherapy.

Jerry and Violet sold their home in Evergreen, and in March 2022 moved to Lakewood to be close to doctors. Jerry was doing very well, and they started traveling in between treatments. Tulsa, OK for car show with best friends, Mount Rushmore with sister-n-law & brother-n-law, Chicago with sister, Hobart, IN to attend a classmate’s monthly get together lunch, Florida trip (Orlando-Sarasota-Fort Meyers-Key West-Palm Coast -to visit Niece and family), 4th of July boating on Lake Michigan with nephew and family and sister ,Niagara Falls, with son Jerrett, and daughter, Julianna and Jose, Ft. Meyers Fl with Julianna and Jose, and our family trip New Orleans with all the kids and most of the their families, Jerry was a trooper and did not complain even when oldest daughter Jayme got him to dance on Bourbon Street. Our last trip was to Scottsboro and Woodville AL where his father grew up, parent’s final home, resting place and home of the southern “Tidwool” relatives with sister-n-law and brother-n-law, daughter Jayme (Dan), Daughter Julianna (Jose),

In May 2023, it was revealed that immunotherapy was no longer effective and given the choice Jerry chose to continue fighting the cancer and started chemotherapy again. In 2024 there was much to celebrate. In February Jerry turned seventy-three with his family and friends. In April, he walked his youngest daughter down the aisle at her wedding. In May, Jerry watched his youngest granddaughter receive her high school diploma from his hospital bed and received a facetime call from a group of fellow “Brickie” classmates on their weekend lake gathering in Indiana. Then June he spent Father’s Day at home surrounded by his family and friends. He was happy and was enjoying the laughter, jokes, and excitement from the family and it was truly a blessed day. Unfortunately, two days later, on June 18, 2024, Jerry passed away in his sleep at home.

Jerry was strong and never gave up thanks to the love and support of family, friends, relatives, “brickie” classmates, lineman co-workers, clients, neighbors, and acquaintances of Evergreen and Golden and all the doctors, nurses, and facilities. He is survived by his wife of thirty-five years Violet Tidwell; children, Jayme Tidwell (Dan), Jeanelle Leyba (Rick), Jillian Rabinovich (Vitaliy), Jerrett Tidwell, and Julianna Tidwell (Jose); Granddaughter; Jalyn Ricks and Alina Leyba; Siblings, Linda Ayers, Rick Tidwell, Randy Tidwell (Donna), and Debbie Gobin (Terry); as well as several beloved nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephew. He is greeted by his parents; Lester and Lois Tidwell; siblings; Donald and Tim Tidwell; brother-in-law; Byron Ayers; and niece; Laura Jean Krenkel.

To honor Jerry’s memory, a celebration of life gathering will be held on Saturday, August 17, 2024.
To be held at Alderfer/Three Sisters Park in Evergreen, Colorado from 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm.
Parking is limited – carpooling is recommended.

Alderfer Pavilion and Meadow
30299 Buffalo Park Road
Evergreen CO 80439

This obituary and the picture below were obtained from: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/wheat-ridge-co/jerry-tidwell-11866335.  The picture above was obtained from the 1970 HHS Memories yearbook, made available by the Lake County Public Library, at: https://archive.org/details/HOHS1970Images/.