Jerry Lee Balke, 78, of rural Malta Bend, MO, died Thursday, November 23, 2023, at Legendary Nursing and Rehab, with his wife and daughter by his side, in Marshall.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, November 27, 2023, at Campbell-Lewis Chapel in Marshall with Pastor Jacob Wren officiating and burial following in Malta Bend Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Monday at the funeral home.  Memorials are suggested to Cancer Perks or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and an online guestbook is available at www.campbell-lewis.com

Born January 16, 1945, in Benton County, MO, he was the son of the late Emery E. Balke and Thelma Kiser Balke.  Jerry graduated with the last graduating class of Blackburn High School in 1963.  On May 8, 1965, he married Judy Pierson who survives of the home.  Jerry lived in the rural Blackburn and Malta Bend areas most of his life and worked at International Shoe Factory, in both Sweet Springs and Marshall, until its closing, and then worked as a machinist at Kays Engineering for over 20 years.

In addition to his wife of 58 years, Judy; he is survived by two children, Naleen Fletcher (Sonny) and Kirby Balke (Shauna), both of Marshall; three grandsons: Kannon Fletcher, Keaton Fletcher (Destiny) and Damien Brown; four great-grandchildren: Brooklyn, Ziiryn, Brynlee and Spencer; one brother, Dean Balke (Karen) of Lathrop; as well as nieces, nephews, and other extended family.