Jerry Hohnbaum

O n August 5, 2024, Jerry Hohnbaum peacefully passed away at the age of 84.  He is now at rest with his beloved Becky and will join her in the Columbarium of the Resurrection Atrium at Episcopal Church of Our Savior.

Jerry Allen Hohnbaum, the son of Kenneth Vernon and Lucile (Downer) Hohnbaum, was born October 15, 1939, in Council Bluffs, Iowa.  He was raised in York, Nebraska, where he graduated from York High School. At the age of 13, Jerry began playing the organ for the Baptist-Congregational Church, thus beginning his career in music.

Jerry earned his Bachelor's Degree from Nebraska Wesleyan University and his Master of Music Degree in Organ from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln where he was a student of Myron J. Roberts.  Jerry later studied in Belgium with the noted composer, Flor Peeters.

On June 4, 1960, Jerry was united in marriage to Mary Rebecca 'Becky' Lee at Lexington, Nebraska.  The couple adopted David Allen and were foster parents to Harry Stephen Mahanes.  They were together for 62 years when Becky passed away in 2022.

Jerry had a great love for music; he was a full-time music director in several churches as well as a professional concert organist.  While working full-time, he specialized in churches with multiple choir programs and served as an organist-choirmaster in Nebraska, Texas, Missouri, Alabama and Virginia.

In 1977 the Hohnbaums settled in North Platte; Becky taught grade school and tutored as Jerry continued with his music.  Jerry was organist-choir master for the Episcopal Church of Our Savior (which he was a member of), St. Patrick's Catholic Church and Holy Spirit Catholic Church, was organist for First Presbyterian Church, and taught piano.

Jerry's full-time music career came to an end when he suffered from hearing loss, but as one door closed another opened.  Jerry went on to work for the good of the hard of hearing in Western Nebraska.  He was a member of the National Board of Self Help for Hard of Hearing People and Nebraska Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, where he also served a term as Chair.  Jerry was instrumental in establishing an office for the Nebraska Commission in North Platte to serve Western Nebraska.  In 2004 Jerry received the Rocky Stone National Humanitarian Award for his work with hard of hearing people by S.H.H.H.

Along with his wife, Becky, Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Lucile Hohnbaum; sister and brother-in-law, Georgia and Don Jones; brother-in-law, Daniel Apple; and in-laws, Frank and Mary Lee.

Survivors include his son, David Hohnbaum; foster son, Steve (Connie) Mahanes; grandchildren, Erik (Kellie) Mahanes and Michael Mahanes; great-grandchildren, Lucas and Clayton; his sister, Gale Hohnbaum Apple, and brother, Bill Hohnbaum; as well as other family.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, August 9, at Episcopal Church of Our Savior then Jerry will be placed in the Columbarium alongside his beloved Becky.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are to Grace Ministries Food Pantry.  The memorial book may be signed online at odeanchapel.com or at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore.

The funeral mass for Jerry will be live-streamed on YouTube, and available as a recording for a few weeks on the channel, Church of Our Savior North Platte.