Jerry D Benjamin

Jerry was born on November 2nd, 1937 in Pekin, Illinois. His parents were Alvin and Lucille Benjamin. He married Barbara Manchester on October 20, 1962. They had two children, and four grandchildren.

Jerry graduated from Bradley University and McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. He earned his Doctor of Divinity at Iliff School of Theology in Denver. Jerry was a pastor at Grace Presbyterian Church in Winona MN, United Presbyterian Church in Keokuk, IA, Presbyterian Church of Broomfield, CO, and Tieton Presbyterian Church in Tieton, WA. Jerry was a minister/pastor/teacher from 1967 until the day he died.

Professionally, Jerry traveled to Russia during the Cold War to visit churches and people in an effort to come back to America and show people that God and Christianity were alive and well throughout that area of the world. He was invited to Hungary to teach at University. In Colorado, he taught at the University of Colorado - Boulder, University of Denver, and at the Colorado State Penitentiary in Canon City. He helped the church youth group with a trip to Mexico. One of his passions was to minister to people in hospitals, those who were alone or ailing in their homes.

Jerry and his wife, Barbara, shared many similar humanitarian beliefs, and lived a life of service: they marched in civil rights marches in Chicago during the 1960’s, they were frequently helpers on the first Tuesdays in November. They welcomed refugees, women from a local shelter, exchange students, and their sons’ friends to stay in their home. They were active in every community in which they lived. He was open and kind and competent and radiated those things.

Jerry was a poet and an author. He wrote and published a study on Galatians. He wrote a book of poems based on the Book of Acts. He wrote mystery short stories and at least one book.

Jerry and Barbara, Mom and Dad, Barb and Jerry, Gram and Grampa. Does anyone remember them apart? They were always together even before Barbara joined the ministry and became co-pastor at Broomfield Presbyterian. Individually they were good, but together they were a force for good. They both loved the wilderness: honeymoon in Yellowstone, family vacations in New Mexico and Colorado. Every Saturday and some Fridays they took trips up to Rocky Mountain National Park. They climbed Long’s Peak and Pike’s Peak together. They drove up Mt. Evans, (the highest road in the continental United States), every time someone came to visit…and people always came to visit. They hiked to dozens of ridges and mountains, hundreds of waterfalls and lakes. The staff at the coffee shop in Estes Park knew the Benjamins by name. “Coffees and hot chocolates Jerry?” They drove up Trail Ridge Road on the day the road opened every year until Barbara’s breathing couldn’t handle the altitude; then they never went again: if they couldn’t go together, they didn’t want to go at all. Family vacations were spent at Ghost Ranch in New Mexico almost every year until the mid-1980s. The only hour they were apart during those trips was when Barbara would go horseback riding, which she loved. Jerry didn’t trust them—that’s too high off the ground for a big man.

Jerry loved walking with Barbara down to a coffee shop in Boulder five times a week. They got a coffee and talked to everyone who walked in. It was a four mile walk round trip. Just walking and being together and talking to each other and everyone else. They read together mornings, afternoons, evenings, and nights. They went to symphonies, operas, theater, and concerts together. They did crosswords together and wrote sermons together – discussing points and counterpoints. They loved each other and they wanted to spend their time together whenever they could. Now they are together again.

Jerry was loved and is loved and will continue to be loved all over the country and the world. He will likely be having a coffee with family and friends and soon-to-be friends in heaven as you read this.

Jerry is survived by his children: Steve and Steve’s wife Yvette; Jim and Jim’s wife Dina. He was loved by his grandchildren Hannah Benjamin, Heather Benjamin, Athena Benjamin, and Derek Donah.