JEROME "JERRY" CHARLES TAYLOR, age 94 of Luverne, MN, died on August 9, 2015 at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne.  He was born on January 7, 1921 in Adrian, MN to Bryan C. and Carolyn (Kraphl) Taylor, the oldest of their ten children. He was raised on the family farm and graduated from St. Adrian High School in Adrian, MN.
In 1942, Jerry trained as a Navy pilot and was later commissioned into the Marine Corps and having excelled as an Instrument Pilot was selected to be an Instrument Pilot Instructor.  He also received training to fly transport planes and then transported G.I.s to various islands in the Pacific theatre of the war.  He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant and later to Captain and 1st Pilot of his plane.
Following the war, Jerry married Lucille Morgan of Ellsworth, MN and they raised a family of ten children on a farm near Adrian. 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 4H 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.  This honor signified that they had "made significant contributions to Minnesota agriculture and their communities".  Jerry was a life-long member of the Knights of Columbus and 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 and was highly regarded by patients and staff for his dedicated service. Upon retirement, the couple moved to Luverne MN where they lived together until Jerry moved to the Veteran's Home.
Jerry is survived by his nine children and spouses: Maureen and Walt Gearino, Des Moines, IA; Beth Strootman, Andover, MN; Mary Carole and Joel Hornaman, Aberdeen, SD; Tim and Deb Taylor, Adrian, MN; Dan and Suzanne Taylor, Ypsilanti, MI; Kevin Taylor and Julie Jones, Ann Arbor, MI; Leisha Nebel-Taylor (widow of son John), Osh Kosh, WI; Kate and Dennis Johnson, Hendricks, MN; Ann and Mark Schumacher, Omaha, NE and Sara Taylor and Miguel Souffront, Woodbury, MN; 31 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; sister, Sr. Brian Taylor OSF, Rochester; and four brothers, Jim Taylor, Adrian; Bill (Dee) Taylor, Worthington; Carroll Taylor, Hopkins; and Gene (Marva) Taylor, Adrian.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Lucille Taylor on July 31, 2015; his parents, Bryan and Carolyn Taylor; four brothers: Earl Taylor, Lloyd (Paul) Taylor, Robert Taylor and Bryan C. Taylor; and three sisters-in-law: Beverly, Lorraine and Joan. Jerry also experienced the loss of his son John Taylor, son-in-law Larry Strootman and grand-daughters Christine Taylor, Catherine Taylor and Lucy Kate Johnson.   Visitation will be at the Dingmann Funeral Home in Luverne from 4-8 pm Friday, with parish prayers & sharing of memories at 7:30 pm. Visitation also from 9:30 to 10:15 am Saturday at the Dingmann Funeral Home in Adrian. Funeral Mass will be 10:30 am Saturday at St. Adrian Catholic Church, in Adrian, officiated by Fr. Andrew Beerman & Fr. Thomas Jennings. Burial with full military honors provided by the Adrian American Legion will be in the St. Adrian Cemetery.
Memorials are preferred.

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