Jerald Lee Vance passed away peacefully October 7, 2020, at his home in Leavenworth, Kansas, after a brief battle with cancer.

Jerald was born on January 23, 1958 in Springfield, Missouri, to Joseph and Jean (Newkirk) Vance, joining his older brother, Jason, as the couple's two children.

His family moved to Leavenworth in 1960, following his father's career with the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, where he lived until graduating from Leavenworth High School in 1977.

Jerald loved growing up in Leavenworth, living life outdoors as much as possible, spending his formative years at the family's home on South Third street. He spent endless hours with his childhood friends, playing in creeks, at Stubby Park, exploring limestone caves, walking the railroad tracks and finding adventure along the banks of the Missouri River.

His favorite childhood memory was plinking with .22 rifles on Saturdays with is dad and brother. He especially enjoyed regular trips to his grandmother Jennie Newkirk's farm in Blockton, Iowa, where he could shoot to his heart's content.

Jerald joined the U.S. Navy after high school, serving a total of twelve years over two separate enlistments, 1977 – 1981 and 1985 – 1993. He served on the USS New Jersey, the USS Dixon, and the USS Prairie as a Hull Technician. Between enlistments, in 1982, he earned his Emergency Medical Technology certification from the University of Kansas Medical Center.

After an honorable discharge from the military, he settled in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he worked in housekeeping for several employers over the next almost 17 years. In 2009, he returned to the family home in Leavenworth and began working for the Army & Air Force Exchange Service at Fort Leavenworth, as a janitor, and also began years of loving devotion caring for his widowed mother.

There are hardly words to describe how much Jerald liked working for the AAFES where he was highly valued. His job meant the world to him and his employer knows it will be very difficult to find a janitor who approaches Jerald's dedication and quality of work.

Jerald's mind never rested. He read hundreds of books, and regularly perused the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Economist. In addition to those who loved him, Jerald leaves behind five hand-written spiral bound notebooks, filled with his ideas of how we can ensure economic opportunity for all Americans.

Jerald was predeceased by his father in 2001 and his mother in 2017. He is survived by his brother, Jason and his wife, Margaret, Borger, Texas. Also, by nephews; Michael Vance and his wife, Quin, Yukon, Oklahoma, and Gabriel Vance and his wife, Alicia, Bellevue, Nebraska, and by nieces; Katie (Vance) Lingor and her husband, Kamron, Borger, Texas, and Megan Vance, South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, plus children of the marriages. Additional survivors include many cousins, aunts and uncles.

A graveside service with Military Honors will be held on Monday, October 19, 2020, 1:30 p.m., at Leavenworth National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, Jerald's family requests donations be made to your favorite charity.