Jerry D. Honeycutt

Jerry D. Honeycutt, age 76, of McCook, Nebraska passed away Monday, January 29, 2024 at his home in rural McCook.

Jerry was born in Princeton, Missouri on May 2, 1947 to parents, Elmer and Hazel (Tschacher) Honeycutt.  He was the third of 7 children.  He spent his childhood in the Grand Island, Nebraska area, graduating from High School in 1965 and later served in the Army during the Vietnam War era at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.  Jerry married Cheryl Clark while in the service.  They were the parents of daughter, Cindy.

Jerry’s music career began in Junior High School and he spent his life in the entertainment business.  To describe Jerry as “The Entertainer” or “The Music Man” is far from adequate. His ability to bring joy, a smile or laughter to people was a trait that he carried through his entire life. He simply LOVED people and bringing happiness to others through his music or just being their friend.

Jerry was a professional musician/entertainer throughout his life playing in numerous bands including “The Jerry Honeycutt Show”, which he managed.  In the early 70’s, while working in Lake Tahoe, he was hired by “The Music Company” which did studio work, commercials and television.  They were back- up singers/dancers for many stage acts.  They worked with Florence Henderson and others.  Under the direction of John Felden, a former member of “The Diamonds”, they reformed the group during the Happy Days and American Graffiti era as a traveling entertainment show performing on the West Coast, Las Vegas, Reno, Cheyenne, Spokane, New Orleans, Hawaii, Acapulco and a British Isles tour.

In the late 70’s, after the group came off the road, Jerry spent a summer in Boise and began his solo career.  On June 3, 1980, he was performing at the Pagoda lounge in Grand Island. It became known as “The night of the Twisters”. The building, his equipment and his van were all destroyed in this tragic event in Grand Island. With the help of the Red Cross, he was able to purchase music equipment and resume his work.

Jerry married Teresa Stunkel-Peterson on March 5, 1983 in McCook, Nebraska. They lived south of McCook their entire married life.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Hazel (Tschacher) Honeycutt; brothers, Butch Honeycutt and Bill Honeycutt; sisters, Kay Eggers-Turner and Lynette Kelly; brothers in law, Marvin Eggers, George Turner, Mike Jolkowski and Harvey Kelly; nephews, Jeff Hoeft and Shawn Honeycutt and niece, Jody Randall.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Teresa of McCook, Nebraska; brother, Mike Honeycutt and wife, Linda, of Grand Island, Nebraska; sister, Jackie Hoeft and husband, Tom Mayhan of Omaha, Nebraska; sisters in law, Barb Honeycutt of Rapid City, South Dakota and Lynn Honeycutt of Arizona; daughter, Cindy Nesiba, her children and husband Bill of Oregon; parents in-law, Dennis and Judy Stunkel of Broken Bow, Nebraska; and sister in laws, Denise and husband Scott Kaelin and Rashelle and husband Mike Ryan, all of Ansley, Nebraska;