Jerry was born to Fred and Mary Krajnik January 10, 1925, on a farm in Ord, NE. When he was 2, they moved to a farm on Southside Blvd. in Nampa, ID. Jerry went to the Southside Blvd. School from first through eighth grade. He farmed with his parents until he went into the U.S. Navy in 1944. After the Navy, he participated in local rodeos as a calf roper and a heeler in team roping. He rodeoed with Dean Oliver and Harry Charters. Jerry also started working his own farm on Happy Valley Road. In 1961, he met his wife, LuDean Thornley. They were married on April 20, 1962, and enjoyed 59 years of marriage. LuDean brought two little girls into the marriage with her; Bonnie and Vergie Anson; and Jerry and LuDean's son, Ben, was born in 1963. Jerry and his wife started a long career of raising and racing horses. Jerry was one of the people instrumental in bringing pari-mutuel racing to the state of Idaho. Along with racing horses, they farmed and milked cows on their 160-acre farm. Jerry farmed into his early nineties. He also enjoyed family elk hunting trips on the Middle Fork Boise River for many years. Memories from Jerry's son, Ben Krajnik: -Driving the 2510 cultivating corn and trying to keep from going to sleep. That only happened once. -Being around the racehorses; I wasn't very interested in the horse racing, but Dad gave me the geldings and I made them into roping horses. They turned into some of the best roping horses in the valley. -If I wanted something, my parents would meet me in the middle and help me get it. -When I took over all the farming because of Dad's age, and him not feeling safe doing it alone, I really looked forward to winter and him driving the old flatbed pickup to help feed the cows. We did that up until two weeks before he passed. -The smile on his face the last time we went to the back pasture and watching the young calves with their tails up in the air, chasing each other. -Sitting by his bed talking about old memories and seeing his smile will be the best way to remember him. Memories from Jerry's nephew, Gary Krajnik: "For several decades, Uncle Jerry, Uncle Lynn, and my father, Ed, put up alfalfa hay in large, loose stacks. Around the age of 9, I learned how to chop and build a loose haystack. Building the stacks is quite an art. It was dirty work, but the cattle loved the results. The things I learned from my uncles were precious. "Thanksgiving at Jerry and LuDean's was awesome with plenty of food and a great family gathering. I miss those days. Some of the best times were when Uncle Jerry and Uncle Lynn and a lot of the Krajnik family were at the family hunting camps with the kids and the horses, learning how to hunt. You would've had to have been there to understand what a special time it was. "A really good thing I saw in Uncle Jerry was when the young kids in the family would stay with him and LuDean. They would learn how to feed livestock, irrigate the fields, drive a tractor, and learn respect. They also seemed to love being there. "Being in the presence of my uncle there was cheer and laughter, and I will cherish many other memories of him. Now he rests in a much better place." Memories from Jerry's grandson, Seth Clawson: He will never forget all the times they went to burn ditches with their two ice-cold bottles of water, and the trips to the back pasture to check the cows. And he will never forget who taught him to drive the tractor while sitting on the fender. Love you, Grandpa. Memories from Jerry's grandson, Shane Anson: He will always appreciate the life lessons and the hard-work ethic that Grandpa taught him. Memories from Jerry's grandson, Travis Krajnik: Travis has expressed that he has many special memories of his grandfather... too many to share. Memories from Jerry's daughter-in-law, Brandi Krajnik: She will always remember his quick wit, smile, and short giggle after a tormenting comment. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Mary Krajnik; two brothers; and four sisters. He is survived by his wife, LuDean; sister, Betty Nichols; his children: Ben (Brandi) Krajnik, Bonnie (James) Anson, Vergie (Don) Clawson; six grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and nine great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM, Thursday, December 30 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 88 S Happy Valley Road in Nampa. A viewing will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, Wednesday, December 29 at Zeyer Funeral Chapel, 83 N Midland Blvd in Nampa. Perry Zeyer is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85715428092
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