Jerry Lee DeLeon, Sr. passed on August 23, at 6:20 a.m., at John Knox Dementia Care Unit in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Jerry was born on January 7, 1936, in Des Moines, Iowa, and married his childhood sweetheart, Margaret “Maggie” DeLeon (nee Jensen) on June 17, 1954. Jerry graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in Des Moines, where he was known for his athletic prowess and a tenor voice that made all the girls swoon! Jerry and Maggie had a 70-year marriage made rich by the realization of the dream they shared of having a large family, traveling the world, and having a long, happy marriage. Jerry enjoyed time with family and friends, keeping up with current events, and playing golf.

After high school, Jerry and Maggie married before Jerry volunteered to join the Air Force (1954-1958), where he was an electrician working on airplane communication systems.

Jerry had a 30-year career association with AT&T: AT&T (1960 through 1977) and AT&T International (1977 through 1990). Jerry’s work with AT&T International began with a project management position in the Caribbean and promotions gave Jerry and Maggie the opportunity to live in Riyadh and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and Brussels, Belgium. Jerry and Maggie were proud to have a home in Javea, Spain, where they entertained friends and family.

Jerry is survived by his five children; Pam Moore and her husband Jim; Jerry De Leon Jr; Karen Adams; Lisa De Leon; and Michele De Leon and her husband Steve Richards, as well as 9 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren; and his sisters Carol Putney and Sandra DeLeon. Jerry was predeceased by his wife Maggie, his parents, Joseph and Edith DeLeon; his sister, Dolores Burris; his brothers, Joseph DeLeon, Jr., Jack DeLeon, and Richard DeLeon; and his son-in-law, Kenneth Adams Jr. If you would like to remember Jerry with a gift, please donate to No Kid Hungry: nokidhungry.com.