A Celebration of Life for 87-year old Geraldine “Jerry” Armstrong, who grew up in Chadron, will be held Monday, March 20, 2023 at 10:00 at Chamberlain Chapel in Chadron.
The family invites everyone to join them at the service and in wearing pink, her favorite color.
Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery in Chadron
Jerry was the daughter-in-law of Ross Armstrong and in lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation in her name to the Ross O Armstrong Family Scholarship at the Chadron State Foundation or to your favorite educational charity. Donations may be sent to Chamberlain Chapel, PO Box 970, Chadron, NE 69337.
Online condolences may be left at www.chamberlainchapel.com
Geraldine Ann Armstrong was born in Sioux City, IA, to Herman and Doris Hirchert and passed away peacefully in Tucson, AZ, a little over a year ago on Feb 3, 2022, surrounded by her three daughters.
Jerry grew up in Chadron and graduated from Chadron State College with a degree in Education. It was at CSC that she met her husband of 52 years, Robert J Armstrong.
After graduation, they married and moved to Carson City, NV, where she taught in the public schools until their daughters – Kristi, Kathie and Karen – were born.
The family moved to Tucson in 1965 and Jerry went on to obtain her Masters Degree in Education in 1970 from the University of Arizona, while raising her family and volunteering for a wide variety of organizations.
Jerry was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, whose lifelong passion was children. She loved nothing more than teaching a child to read and in 1975 she returned to the classroom.
It soon became clear that to realize her vision of education for the children of Tucson, Jerry would need to be in charge so in 1982, she established her own private school.
It was an audacious move, beginning with a class of just 6 kindergarten girls whose parents entrusted their education to a woman with a dream. Twenty years later, Armstrong Academy had educated hundreds of children, from Kindergarten through 8th Grade.
If one’s legacy is measured in lives touched, Jerry’s legacy is one for the ages. The family is grateful for all who have reached out with stories of how their children were impacted by Jerry’s work. Please know that you
all meant just as much to her.
The family would like to extend their sincerest thanks to the staff at Park Senior Villas for the loving care they gave her in her final years as her memories slowly faded away, and to Aria Hospice staff for helping ease her final journey.
Jerry is survived by her children, Kristine (Robert) Woodworth, Kathleen (Ken) O’Hanian and Karen (Ray) Foote, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband Robert; parents Herman and Doris Hirchert; brother Bill; and her Jan (Robert) Shaw.