Jerry Allen Czebotar

March 17, 1952 – September 27, 2026

Jerry Allen Czebotar, 74, passed away peacefully on September 27, 2026, in Kennewick, Washington, leaving behind a life filled with family, hard work, curiosity, adventure, strong opinions, plenty of stories, and an unmistakable love for the land.

Jerry was born in Pasco, Washington, on March 17, 1952, the oldest child of the late Mary Belle (Boies) Czebotar and Stephen “Zeb” Czebotar. He grew up alongside his younger siblings, Tony, Vicki, and Mike, attended Kennewick schools, and graduated from Kennewick High School in 1970. He later attended Washington State University, where he studied agriculture and pledged Alpha Gamma Rho (AGR).

Farming was woven into Jerry’s life from an early age. He treasured time with his beloved Grandpa J.B. Boies and shared a special bond with his Uncle Frank, both farmers who helped shape his lifelong connection to agriculture. The Boies family began growing grapes for the Welch’s cooperative in the early 1950s, beginning a farming tradition.

Jerry first became a father to James Czebotar and Heather Kintzley. November 5, 1999, Jerry married Dolores Marie Czebotar, and welcomed Krista Jones and Dustin Rogers as his bonus children. Together, Jerry and Dolores blended their families and built a life filled with children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, farming, animals, road trips, and adventures.

Adventures included Sunday drives through the lower Washington valleys to admire the farmland, heading out for a Razor ride, visiting the coast, or simply setting off on another adventure together, Jerry looked forward to experiencing life with Dolores beside him. He was endlessly fascinated by agriculture and had a special appreciation for dams and the extraordinary engineering behind them. Even a simple drive could become an adventure when Jerry and Dolores were together.

Although agriculture was always close to his heart, Jerry’s path took a few turns. From 1983 to 1990, he operated Zeb’s Radiator on Clearwater Avenue in Kennewick before eventually returning to his true calling—growing grapes.

Affectionately known among fellow growers as “Dr. Grape,” Jerry operated Zeb’s Vineyard in Pasco. Together, he and Dolores grew the farm to approximately 80 acres of Welch’s Concord grapes.

For Jerry, farming was never simply a job. He genuinely loved the land. Out in the vineyard, with his hands in the dirt and his dogs nearby, were some of the moments when Jerry was happiest and felt closest to his Creator.

His dedication extended well beyond his own vineyard. Jerry represented and was an advocated for his fellow growers through his involvement with the National Grape Cooperative and Welch’s, eventually serving on the Board of Directors for both National Grape and the Welch board. In 2003, the Washington State Grape Society honored him as the Lloyd H. Porter Grower of the Year, recognizing his contributions to an industry and farming community that meant so much to him.

Jerry was also endlessly curious and incredibly knowledgeable. He seemed to know a little bit about everything—and if he knew something, chances were you were going to learn about it too. He loved explaining how things worked, sharing what he had learned, telling stories, and offering advice, whether it had been requested or not. A conversation with Jerry could easily last much longer than anyone originally planned.

He had strong opinions and was never afraid to share them. Whether the subject was farming, politics, how something worked, or just about anything else, Jerry could turn a conversation into a spirited debate. His intelligence, stubborn determination, humor, curiosity, and unmistakable personality were simply part of what made Jerry, Jerry.

He loved Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), camping and trips to the coast, especially Westport, and having his beloved dogs and cats nearby. His animals weren’t simply pets to Jerry; they were family.

Jerry’s love for Star Trek was unmistakable. He could rewatch episodes endlessly and knew some of them practically word for word. The familiar Vulcan salute, 🖖, became a little piece of Jerry himself.

And anyone who truly knew him will always remember his love for Mamma Mia!—another wonderfully unmistakable part of who he was.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Dolores; his children, James (Kendra) Czebotar and Heather (Roy) Kintzley; his bonus children, Krista (Derek) Jones and Dustin (Kristen) Rogers; his siblings, Tony (Juli) Czebotar, Vicki (Michael) Soule, and Mike (Ann) Czebotar; as well as 13 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

Jerry leaves behind much more than the vineyard he tended or the accomplishments he earned. He leaves behind Sunday drives and Razor rides, trips to the coast, dogs following him around the farm, conversations about agriculture and dams, familiar Star Trek episodes playing for what might have been the hundredth time, Mamma Mia!, spirited debates, unsolicited advice, lessons taught, stories told, and countless ordinary moments that now mean more than anyone could have imagined.

Most importantly, he leaves behind the family he loved and the woman with whom he chose to share his life.

The rows of grapes Jerry cared for season after season seem a fitting reflection of the life he lived: plant something, care for it, watch it grow, and leave something behind for the generations that follow.

Jerry will be deeply missed, endlessly loved, and undoubtedly talked about at family gatherings for generations to come.

A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on October 10, 2026, at Desert Lawn Cemetery in Kennewick, Washington.

“What we leave behind is not as important as how we’ve lived.” 

— Picard 🖖