Jerry Dale Black

Jerry Dale Black, age 88, of Ottawa, Kansas, passed away on Monday, April 17, 2023, at home surrounded by his family.

Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 pm, Tuesday, April 25, 2023, at Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S Hickory St., Ottawa, Kansas 66067.

Jerry was born on September 5, 1934, in Ottawa, Kansas. He was the son of Leonard and Verna Rae (Fyock) Black. He graduated from high school in Lawton, Oklahoma and then later earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Kansas.

Jerry also served in the United States Army from 1955 to 1958, as a military police officer. While in the army, he earned a Good Conduct medal.

He was united in marriage to Donna Rae Dodd on August 19, 1955, in Gulfport, Mississippi. They had two children, Samantha Rae and Christopher Dale. Together they shared sixty-seven years of marriage.

Jerry was a member of the Optimist Organization, as well as a leader of the Junior Achievement Organization in Topeka. He generously gave his time to other organizations such as the YMCA and helped to organize Suburban baseball leagues for all of Topeka. His YMCA and Optimist basketball teams won city championships as did his North Reds teams in baseball. Every summer he organized projects so that kids could earn out of state trips with the team. Jerry took teams to Texas to see the Astrodome and watch the Astros and to Six Flags Over Texas and to see the beach in Galveston. He also took them on trips to St Louis. Jerry loved sports but also loved bringing a positive force into the lives of his players.

He worked for Ottawa Truck and then later for Fleming’s IGA. His career took him to Oklahoma City, then to Houston, Texas, and then a move to Diamond Bar California where he worked as controller at California Distribution Services.

Jerry was also a Golden Gloves boxer, a friend to all animals, a compassionate and giving person and friend, a loving and devoted husband, the best dad and father-in-law ever, a proud grandfather, an expert flower gardener, an avid KU basketball fan, a hard worker, a great provider, a soft-hearted Christian, a loving son, and a protective brother. To say that he will be missed would be a tremendous understatement. His family meant everything to him, and he meant everything to his family.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Leonard and Verna Black.

Survivors include his wife of sixty-seven years, Donna Rae Black; his son, Chris (Tracy) Black; his daughter, Samantha (Chris) Black; two grandchildren, Jarrett Dale Black and Kelsie Rae Black; and sibling, Star Brewer.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made payable to Dengel & Son Mortuary, to assist with the cost of funeral expenses. Memorials can be mailed to the funeral home at 235 S Hickory St., Ottawa, Kansas 66067.