EVANSTON — Jerry, 88, was born Aug. 16, 1932, to Carl and Pearl Flugel in Colville, Washington, and was the third boy of four sons.
He grew up enjoying the outdoors. When he was 5-years old, he was sledding with his brothers was suddenly unable to get up. Jerry had contracted Perth disease, (a hip deterioration disease) making him unable to walk. He remained in a body cast for three years and was in and out of the Shriners Hospital. He often told the story of the kids at the Shriners Hospital getting candy. They would put all of their candy together and share it with each other. Later, while recovering, he fell ill with St. Vitus Dance Disease (causing severe movement of face, hands and feet). He also contracted Rheumatic fever.
Jerry was no stranger to hard work. As a young man, he worked for his father on the farm, often times with teams of horses. After completing his father’s work he would hire out to the neighbors.
On Jan. 13, 1951, in Colville, Washington, he married the love of his life, Bonnie Jean Eddlemen. Four children were born to them: Jimmy, Nancy, Chick and Diane. They lived in Colville and Jerry worked in the lead and zinc mines in the area. Jerry worked in the mine with Bonnie’s dad, Hershel Eddlemen. He loved working with him, and being underground blasting, because it paid more. He later had to quit, because the dampness of working under ground caused him to have rheumatism problems.
He began logging soon after. He owned his own logging company and worked in Washington, Idaho, Wyoming and Utah. Jerry and Bonnie moved south of Jackson Hole Wyoming in 1962, where he logged the Greys River and Horse Creek areas. They then moved to Daniel, Wyoming, in 1968, where Jerry logged on North and South Cottonwood, Hoback and all along the Wyoming Range.
They built, owned and operated the Flugel Lumber sawmill in Pinedale, Wyoming. They sold lumber, house logs, mine timbers, posts, poles and firewood. In 1975 Jerry went to work for his son, Jimmy, as well as Greenes, logging in the Uinta Mountains. In 1987, he and Bonnie moved to Fort Bridger and started Jerry’s Logging and Firewood business. This kept them busy until he retired at age 84.
Bonnie and Jerry were inseparable. She packed his lunches and took care of the books for all of their business ventures. She also went to the woods with him almost every day. She kept the fuel and oil filled in the chainsaws, hung chokes and kept fires burning on cold days. She kept him running straight.
Jerry was a wonderful husband, father and father-in-law. His grandkids loved him and spent many Christmas eves with them. His passions were his wife, Bonnie, of 70 years, logging and his family. Those who worked, hunted and drank with him will never forget him.
He was proceed in death by his parents, three brothers, two sons, Jim and Jerry (Chick) Flugel; and one great-grandchild, Quinten Long.
Jerry leaves his wife, Bonnie Flugel of Fort Bridger, Wyo.; two children, Nancy Schmid (Jim) of and Diane Goodman (Roger) all of LaBarge, Wyoming; 12 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at the Heritage Barn in Lyman, Wyoming, Sunday Nov. 15, 2020 at 11 a.m.
Online condolences may be given at crandallfhevanston.com.
