Jerald Leo Golmanavich Oct 2024

Information contained is from: Westlawn-Hillcrest Funeral Home​ website.


Jerald L. Golmanavich, 76, of Omaha, NE passed away October 11, 2024. Preceded in death by his parents, Leo Golman and Anna (Sowakinas) Golmanavich and an infant brother, Leo. Jerry is survived by his wife, Elizabeth (Betty) (Soldan) Golmanavich, our cat, Smoochie, Jerry’s brother and sister-in-law, Joseph & Susan Golmanavich, twin nieces Lauren (Scott & Morgan) McIver and Jessica (Jeff & Matthew) Kahn.


Jerry was born in Newark, NJ on July 17th, 1948. He went to East Side High School in Newark and the Newark College of Engineering, now known as the New Jersey Institute of Technology. In 1969, Jerry was hired on by Western Electric in Baltimore, MD. On April 4, 1970, he married Elizabeth (Betty) Soldan.


In 1983, Western Electric transferred Jerry’s job to their facility in Omaha, NE. Jerry and Betty moved into their house on July 2, 1983. Jerry continued to work there when it became A.T.&T., and then Lucent Technologies. He got his Master’s Degree from Purdue University on August 3, 1990 through a company program. Jerry wrote two chapters and edited the Plastic Technician’s Toolbox (a set of 7 books about plastic molding).


Jerry also received two work related patents. He retired from Lucent Technologies on February 29, 2000. Jerry passed away on October 11th due to complications from prostate cancer.


Jerry belonged to many organizations such as the American Coaster Enthusiasts, the Automatic Musical Instrument Collectors Association, the German/American Society in Omaha, including the Baers Men’s Group, the River City Theatre Organ Society, the Nebraska Trailblazers, the Society of American Magicians, the Omaha Magic Society, the Knights of Columbus, and the Society of Plastics Engineers.


He volunteered at the Omaha Community Playhouse, the Rose Theater, Salvation Army, and the Heartland Council of Pioneers, making Hug-a-Bears for the police and sheriff’s departments. He also headed up a program called Project Connect (educational computer games for students).

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