--Published in The Alaska Dispatch News, 02/14/2016:

Jerry Lee Imm died peacefully at home on Jan. 29, 2016, at the age of 83. He spent his last days surrounded by his wife, children and grandchildren.

Born in Sciotoville, Ohio, in 1932, to Roy and Emma Imm, Jerry was the third of four children. He attended school in Sciotoville until his high school graduation and then he joined the Air Force.

Upon his enlistment in 1949, during the Korean War, Jerry was stationed in Bitburg, Germany. When he wasn't on duty, Jerry spent time adventuring around Europe.

After his discharge, Jerry returned to Ohio, and eloped with the love of his life, Shirley Alice Bouts, to Liberty, Ind. While starting their family, Jerry attended Ohio State University beginning his lasting passion as a die-hard Buckeye. He studied oceanography while playing on the football team and serving as the team photographer.

He graduated in 1960, with a Bachelor of Science in Oceanography. Jerry joined the Department of Defense, U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office in Washington, D.C., as an ocean-going oceanographer doing whatever oceanographers with a background in radios did during the cold war. In this job Jerry visited ports all over the world and could never be candid with his family about what he did even up until his death.

In 1975, Jerry transferred to the Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service (MMS) and moved to Alaska. Shirley and most of his family moved along with him. While at MMS he was able to apply his knowledge of oceanography, radar, acoustics and sonar to tracking bowhead whales. This placed him at the forefront of many scientific data gathering projects conducted by the federal government.

After 25 years with MMS, Jerry retired and accepted a political appointment during the Hickel administration working in the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. Alaska and Jerry were a perfect match and shortly after arriving in 1975, Jerry got his pilot's license and pursued a passion for hunting and fishing - both with guns and with cameras.

He flew his Super Cub all around Alaska landing at most of the airports and on sandbars on most of Alaska's rivers. He was an enthusiastic skier and served on the board of the Alyeska Ski Club and raced in the masters program into his 70s.

Jerry had a special love for his grandchildren and could always find time to spend with them. This is a good thing, as he is survived by 17 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren who are proud to call him Pop-pop.

He is survived by his loving wife, Shirley; and his five children, Terry, Teresa (Greg), Larry (Adele), Susan and Barry.

A memorial service will be held at Evergreen Memorial Chapel on Feb. 16, 2016, viewing will begin at 12 p.m., and with the service at 1 p.m. Pastor Lauwers will officiate. Jerry will be interred at the National Cemetery Fort Richardson immediately after the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Wounded Warriors Project. Arrangements are with Janssen's Evergreen Memorial Chapel.