Jerry Lee Poulson

Jerry Lee Poulson, 60, died at his home on Wednesday, Jan. 12 after a lengthy illness of Wegener”s Granulomantosis. He was born Jan. 11, 1945 in Davenport Iowa to Lyle and Alice Poulson. He grew up in Cherokee, Iowa, a farm community in northwest Iowa of about 8,000 people.
He graduated from Cherokee High School in 1963, very proud of his senior class. They were the on

ly high school ever, in 30 years of conference, to win titles in football basketball, and track all in the same year. He played offensive guard on the undefeated football team and he held both conference and district discus champion.
After graduating high school he attended Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska from 1963-1967. He lettered four years throwing the javelin and was co-captain his senior year in track. He still holds the three best throws in Javelin in the school”s history. He graduated in 1967 with a bachelors of Science in Chemistry.
He taught chemistry and physics for two years in New Sharon, Iowa. He married his love and blessing of his life, Cynthia Nysted; on May 10,1969.He joined the army in the fall of 1969 and went to officer”s candidate school in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, He spent four years in me army, most of it an officer at Ent Air force Base in Colorado Springs, working on the Safeguard Missile System.
In the summer of 1973 he separated from the service and moved to Papillion, Nebraska where he taught Jr. High science. In the summer of 1974 he moved to Lockhart, Texas. There he taught science and coached at the Jr. High for seven years. He was assistant principal at the same Jr. High for 13 years. He was then assistant principal of the Lockhart Intermediate School for 4 years. He was principal of the Intermediate School until in 2000 when he became the first principal of Navarro Elementary School in Lockhart. He retired in June 2004.
He was very proud of his family – his wife Cynthia of 35 years, and his two daughters, Donalle and Jerissa, also his granddaughter Raven.
He was very proud of his teaching career and always tried to get people to do their best. He felt he was not blessed with a whole lot of talent, but got places by persistence, determination, and hard work. Throughout his life he continued to compete in master track meets throwing the javelin, discus, and shot-put.
He loved to go fishing every summer in Canada. He has the record of catching the biggest fish by anyone in the cabin – a 22-lb. northern pike.
He was a member of, and active in the First United Methodist Church.
He was also very proud to be associated with a great group of teachers and staff at Navarro Elementary. One thing he liked to doat lunch time was to ask the students math questions. Correct answers earned a reward.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, and twin boys Jav and Javis.
Left behind are his wife Cynthia; his daughter Donalle Rockafellow, husband Keith, and granddaughter Raven; his daughter Jerissa Belsha, and husband Tommy; his sister, Deanna Smith and husband Denny; his sister, Vicki Larson and husband Steve.
Memorials may be sent to: First United Methodist Church, Lockhart, Texas 78644 or Wegener”s Granulmatosis Assoc. P.O. Box 28660 Kansas City, Missouri 64188-8660.