Jerry Lee Tongue

Jerry Lee Tongue, age 97, passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on Sunday, December 20, 2020 with his loving wife of 76 years at his side.

Jerry was born on December 4, 1923 in Rockford, Illinois, son of Henry Lee Tongue and Marie Agnes (Dukes) Tongue. He grew up in Loves Park and attended Harlem High School. He played basketball during junior high school was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Loves Park. Jerry married the love of his life, June A. Wormwood, on March 19, 1944, and they celebrated their 76th Wedding Anniversary this past March.

Jerry enlisted in the United States Marine Corps with his brother on December 8, 1941, the day after Pearl Harbor was bombed. He received an Honorable Discharge and was a proud Marine Corps Veteran. The VA had given him a scooter when his legs wouldn’t allow him to walk very well, and Jerry loved to ride that electric blue scooter all around the neighborhood, visiting with all the neighbors and spending time outside in the beautiful weather!

Jerry was initiated into the Masonic Temple Rockford Lodge No. 102, A.F. & A.M. on January 9, 1947. His Masonic Anniversary was May 27, 1947 in Rockford, Illinois. He rose to a 32nd Degree Mason and went on to become a Shriner.

On June 7, 1951, Jerry was initiated into the electrical apprenticeship program for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local Union 364 in Rockford, Illinois. He graduated as a Journeyman Electrician and spent 43 years working in the electrical construction field. As an Apprentice, Jerry served on the Executive Board of Local Union 364 and for many years when his children were small, planned the union picnics for Local 364 members and children. Jerry enjoyed dressing up as a clown at those picnics and loved to interact with the children.

Jerry’s proudest accomplishment in his career was when he became the Assistant Business Agent for IBEW Local Union 364. During those nine years, he attended Rockford City Council meetings and was appointed to the Electrical Commission by the Mayor of Rockford. During his years on the commission, Jerry participated in selecting the questions used on the city electrical testing examinations. He was so very proud of being a Journeyman Electrician for 69-1/2 years and was equally proud of each of his two sons and his only grandson for following in his footsteps. Following his retirement, Jerry became President of the IBEW Local 364 Retirees Club and enjoyed planning activities, trips and luncheons with fellow retired members/spouses. Jerry was an active member and thoroughly enjoyed his many friendships as an IBEW member.

Jerry and June joined the Blackhawk Field Archers Club as lifetime members in the late 1950’s. They began by shooting life-size targets and Jerry then went on to hunt for deer with a bow and arrow. He hunted each year for rabbit, pheasants, quail and ducks with friends and family. Jerry also raised beagle hounds and hunted with them.

Jerry was a member of Alpine Lutheran Church in Rockford and volunteered his time for many organizations throughout the years. He was an adult scout leader for the Boy Scouts of America, Senior Scout Explorers for Troop 657 of Alpine Lutheran Church. He volunteered as an Auxiliary Police Officer for the City of Rockford for eight years and participated in target shooting with fellow auxiliary officers. Jerry had a great sense of humor and enjoyed dressing up as a clown - once for the Rolling Green Elementary School PTA Fun Fair and also for the annual IBEW Local Union picnics in the 1960’s . Throughout the many years, he always walked in the Labor Day Parades, built and rode on his own IBEW Retired Members float and in later years, road in the parade representing IBEW Retired members of Local Union 364.

In the 1950’s, while traveling around the country working as an electrician, Jerry purchased a small two-seater airplane with a few friends in Ohio. He learned to fly and had his first solo flight in North Dakota. Jerry was very proud of his ability to pilot that airplane and in August 2019 he was given the opportunity to fulfill his longtime dream of jumping out of a “perfectly good airplane!” Heartland Hospice of Rockford made his dream come true! They worked along with the Chicagoland Skydiving Center in Rochelle, IL where Jerry, at the age of 96 years old, jumped out of an airplane and fulfilled his wish! His family, friends and an area Veteran Motorcycle group were there to witness that event! He loved to re-watch the video and reminisce while looking at all of the photos of that special day.

Jerry took his family camping to Wisconsin every year for vacations over Labor Day, Independence Day and Memorial Day. For many years he coached football and volunteered his time in scouting through the Explorers for his son, Scott and cherished many memories of hunting and fishing with his son, Steven. In later years, Jerry shared his wonderful long-term family memories, and told many stories of his life and family, which instilled a love of genealogy in his daughter, Kathleen.

In the latter part of the 1970’s, Jerry started his own business reloading bullets in his garage. Eventually, his business grew and became The Slug Shop where Jerry spent his time reloading, buying and selling handguns, rifles, scopes and leather goods for the public and area police officers. Jerry had always been interested in handguns and target shooting and after his children had grown, he and June became members of Pine Tree Pistol Club in Rockford. They enjoyed target shooting and spent many weekends traveling throughout Illinois to attend shooting competitions. In addition, they enjoyed going to Gun Shows around the state selling leather goods, shooting supplies, guns and ammo. They brought along their little dog, B.B. to all of the gun shows they attended! One extremely proud moment for Jerry was when he recently took classes and qualified for and earned his Concealed Carry License in his 90’s.

Jerry was an animal lover and had many pets throughout his long life. Sandy, a beautiful collie pup, Blackhawk Beau a sweet little beagle, Chia the Pekingese, Corky, the spunky little poodle, B.B. the tiny tea-cup poodle and his most recent best buddy and pal, Buddy! Jerry loved all of his dogs and enjoyed playing and training each one of them over the years.

Surviving relatives include his loving wife, June (Wormwood) Tongue; sons, Scott Allen Tongue and Steven Lee (Keri) Tongue; daughter, Kathleen Sue (Tongue) Mancuso; grandson, Nicholas Lee Mancuso; granddaughter, Michele Alley Mancuso; and great-granddaughter, Bella Mancuso; special niece, Judy (Tom) Lester; special nephews, Burleigh (Linda) Hall Jr. and William Powell.

He was predeceased by his parents, Henry Lee and Marie Agnes (Dukes) Tongue; sisters Marie (Bernard) Whitman, Hazel Ann (Ronald) Abare, and Betty Jane (Burl) Hall; brother Henry U. (Garland) Tongue; special cousin, David S. Putnam; paternal grandparents Orin Henry Tongue and Edith Maude (Bartlit) Tongue; maternal grandparents Jerry Dukes and Rosie (Blacker) Dukes; father-in-law, Richard Allen Wormwood and mother-in-law, Martha M. (Gerdau) Wormwood.

We wish to warmly thank the caregivers, nurses and hospice staff of Heartland Hospice of Rockford for your comforting care and acts of kindness to Jerry through the last months of his life. Extra special thanks go to Heartland Hospice’ Rose Havens, Rachel and Jennifer for your loving care of Jerry and June. He looked forward to seeing all of you each day and especially enjoyed celebrating his birthday on December 4th! It was definitely his happiest birthday ever! His smiles will never be forgotten and will remain within our hearts forever. Thank you also to Dr. Harvey E. Einhorn, MD, Oncology Specialist of the Swedish American Regional Cancer Center in Rockford. His many years of compassion and true concern for Jerry was appreciated by Jerry and his family.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date due to the current COVID-19 restrictions. Arrangements completed by Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, 1860 S. Mulford Road, Rockford, IL. 61108. Share online condolences and memories at www.fitzgeraldfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, Jerry’s family requests that donations be directed to the family for a memorial fund to be established in his name for IBEW Local 364 Retirement Club; Donations may also be made in Jerry’s name to Heartland Hospice of Rockford at 6000 E. State Street, 1st Floor, Rockford, Illinois 61108.