Jerry "Smokey" Lee Colborn

“Home is Where His Heart is”

Jerry Lee Colborn was born in Palmer, Nebraska, on October 12, 1935, to Lisle Colborn and Rena (Ferris) Colborn and passed away at Fraser-Hope Lodge in BC Canada on May 10, 2020.  He will be laid to rest at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, August 8, 2022 at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Palmer, Nebraska.  Greenway-Dietz Funeral Home in Palmer is assisting the family.

Jerry left Palmer in 1940 at the age of 5 when his family moved to California.  He finished his education in Los Angeles.  Jerry joined the navy after graduation and traveled to distant places.  He met his wife, Joan, and they were married in 1957 and had three daughters.  After leaving the navy, Jerry became a journeyman tile setter, a trade he enjoyed very much and excelled at.  In 1975, Jerry and Joan and the family moved from California to BC Canada where Jerry started a tile business.  Throughout his life, Jerry thought of Palmer and his early childhood there which was a happy time when everyone in town was his friend.  When Jerry retired in 2000 at the age of 65, he decided to return to Palmer where he enjoyed genealogy research and learning more about his family history.  The Colborn family are part of the early settlers of the Palmer area and he was proud to be one of the descendants.  In 2010, Jerry returned to Canada to be closer to his remaining children and grandchildren. 

Jerry is survived by his daughter, Judy Colborn of Canada, brother, Ralph Colborn (Cary) of California as well as 10 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.  Jerry was predeceased by ex-wife, Joan (LaCourse) Colborn in 2013, daughters, Jeri Lee DeMille in 1991 and Jamie Sunderland in 2019, as well as brothers Virgil Colborn and Abram Colborn, and sister Beth Whitley.

Jerry worked hard and went the distance raising and caring for his family and now… he is home.

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