Jerry D. Brakhage

Jerry D. Brakhage, 83, of Coal Valley, Illinois, died Sunday, June 19, 2011, at his residence.

Services are 1:00 p.m. Friday in the Celebration of Life Chapel at Trimble Funeral and Cremation Center, Moline, with The Reverend {Minister} officiating. Visitation is 10:00 a.m. to service time Friday. Burial is in Rock Island National Cemetery, where the Moline American Legion Post #246 will present military honors. Memorials may be made to Honor Flight of the Quad Cities.

Jerry Dean Brakhage was born December 20, 1927, in Lahoma, Oklahoma, the son of Herbert H. and Mable A. (Johnson) Brakhage. He married Lien B. Tran on March 8, 1975, in Rock Island, Illinois. He served in the United States Army from 1948 to 1957. He then served as a civilian advisor to the Vietnam government on all munitions from 1972 to 1974.

He was the Chief Executive Officer of the Field Service Activity, Rock Island, retiring in 1987. He was a long time member of the NRA and a firm supporter of the 2nd amendment and the Constitution of the United States. He was a charter and lifetime member of the JAAP Rod & Gun Club and the Saigon Mission Association, a member of the American Legion Post #246 in Moline, the BPO Elks Lodge No. 556 in Moline, and a long time member of the Crescent Lake Club in Alpha, Illinois.

He enjoyed his family. He enjoyed the family get-togethers every other week for dinner, anniversaries, Chinese New Years, birthdays, and cooking for New Years, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. He enjoyed his German shorthaired pointer hunting dogs, hunting, fishing, and watching Oklahoma University Sooners football and basketball. He also enjoyed working around the house and yard, as well as in his large vegetable and flower gardens.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Lien of Coal Valley; a son, Hugh Brakhage of Coal Valley; daughters and sons-in-law, Duwen and Robert Carizey of Silvis, Illinois, Priscilla Brakhage and Kevin Bopp of Davenport, Iowa, and Cherri Brakhage of Chicago, Illinois; grandchildren, Dallas Brakhage and Kayla Carizey; brothers and sisters-in-law, Willard and Ann Brakhage of Hunter, Oklahoma, Vernon and Rosalie Brakhage of Kingfisher, Oklahoma, and Charles and Michelle Brakhage of San Antonio, Texas; a sister, Letha Hollingsworth of Meno, Oklahoma; and many nieces and nephews in Canada, Asia, and the United States.

The family invites you to share stories and condolences and light a candle in Jerry's memory at www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.