Gerald (Jerry) Raymond Duffus 86 of Savannah, MO and formerly of Columbia, MO was called home to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, July 18th, 2023 at his home in Savannah. He was born on December 31, 1936 in Grinnell, IA to Lester and Elsie Duffus.
He grew up in Brooklyn, IA and graduated from Brooklyn High School in 1955 and Central College in Pella, IA in 1960. He was immediately drafted into the US Army and was based in Ft. Monmouth, NJ until discharged in 1962 after serving an extra three months because of the Berlin crisis. He married Linda Louise Killion in 1964 at First Federated Church in Des Moines, IA. He received his Master’s degree from Drake University in 1966.
Jerry and Linda moved to Columbia, MO in 1967 where two children were born, Justin and Christine. Jerry worked at the University of Missouri Police Department until his retirement in 2005. He also invested in and managed rental houses. He was an American history enthusiast, visited many Civil War battlefields and sites, played in chess tournaments, loved music and visiting Branson, enjoyed classic cars, and followed the Chicago Cubs and Mizzou football and basketball. He was an active member of Compass Evangelical Free Church in Columbia and assisted with prison ministry and Bible studies over the years. In 2018 Jerry and Linda moved to Savannah, MO to live with their daughter’s family and became a member of Hosanna Fellowship Church.
Jerry was a loyal and faithful man who loved the Lord and cared deeply for his family. He is survived by his wife Linda; son, Justin (Kathy) Duffus of Nokesville, VA , and daughter Christine (John) Grisamore of Savannah; four grandchildren, Nathaniel (Olivia) Duffus, Linea Duffus, Kelli Duffus, and Easton Grisamore; one great-grandson, Jack Duffus; and one sister, Marylane (Dr. John) Heine of Kalispell, MT.
Visitation and family receiving hours will be 9:00am-11:00am Monday, August 7th, 2023 at Breit-Hawkins Funeral Home. Graveside services will be 11:00am Monday, August 7th, 2023 at Bennett Lane Cemetery, Savannah, MO.
