Obituary: Trudnowski, Jerome
He attended high school in Shelby, Montana where he was a champion diver.
His family moved to Helena, Montana in 1953 where he finished his last two years at Cathedral High School where he excelled in basketball.
After attending Carroll College for a semester he moved down to California with his family.
There he spent a year working for the telephone company before he married his high school sweetheart, Sally, on May 4, 1955.
After living in Los Angeles for a year they moved back to Helena, Montana where they raised their six children while employed by Gamers Bakery and then for Metropolitan Life Insurance.
In the summer of 1966 Jerry was transferred to Spokane, Washington continuing with Metropolitan Life until he was medically retired in 1980.
He enjoyed his remaining years until his passing on June 17, 2013 working at a local car wash and spending many enjoyable years with his family.
Jerry’s favorite activities included hunting and fishing in the outdoors of Montana, genealogy of his and his wife’s families, digital photography, and camping in the famous ‘tentler’.
His favorite time of the year was spending the Christmas holidays with his family, his wife, six children, 12 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.
Many great times were spent over the last 44 years at the family home.
His other interests included his love of John Wayne movies and the history behind World War II.
Jerry is survived by Sally, his wife of 58 years, Michael (Joan) of Missoula, Montana, Timothy (Grace) of Nine Mile Falls, Catherine of Spokane, Joseph of Spokane, Thomas (Diane) of Renton, Washington and William (Monique) of Tacoma, Washington, his brother John (Nancy) of Torrance, California and his cousin Gerda Hunter of Puyallup, Washington.
Jerry was blessed with grandchildren Megan, Amy, Jamie, John, Katie, Heidi, Tyler, Stuart, Buddy, Ana, Frankie, and Sofia, and great-grandchildren Jayda, Carter, Iris, and Eli.
Cremation has taken place.
A vigil with rosary will be 7:00 PM Friday, June 21 at Hennessey Smith Funeral Home at 2203 North Division.
The funeral Mass will be held at St. Aloysius Catholic Church Saturday at 11:00 AM.
The Trudnowski family would like to send out a huge thank you to the medical community of Spokane who cared for Jerry for the last 33 years.
We especially want to recognize Dr. Jeff Clode and Jeanette, Dr. Lessmeier and Steve Roberts and Kathy McKee.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Washington State Special Olympics, American Heart Association or a charity of your choice in memory of Jerry.
Please visit Jerry’s online memorial at www.hennesseyfuneralhomes.com, and leave a message of condolence.
Arrangements have been entrusted to: